Method for Rapid and Accurate Measurement of Chitosan Viscosity

A simple and rapid method to estimate the viscosity of chitosan using laboratory pipettes was developed. The voscosities of nine different chitosan samples, prepared ini 1 % acetic acid at a 1% concentration , were measured with a standard viscometer. Prior to measurement of flow time of 1% chitosan solution with a pipette, twelve pipettes were assorted into three groups with flow times of 4, 5 and 6 sec after measuring passage of 9 ml of 1% acetic acid througth a 10 ml pipette. With each group of pipettes. flow time of 1% chitosan solution was determined by measuring the delivery time of 5 ml of the 10ml solution through a 10 ml pipette. Results of regression analyses revealed high linear relationship(R2=0.9812, 0.9663, and 0.9754) between viscosities calculated with a viscometer and flow times measured with 4, 5 or 6 sec group pipettes. The viscosity of chitosan could be readily and accurately estimated from these linear regression equation by measuring flow times based on pipette delivery.