N-alkyl chitosan was prepared by reducing a schiff base formed from chitosan and lauraldehyde,and microwave irradiation was applied to the preparation of N-alkyl chitosan.The effects of microwave power,irradiation time,amount of catalyst,and n(chitosan)/n(aldhyde) ratio on the degree of alkylation substitution of(chitosan) were studied.The modified chitosan was characterized by FTIR and EA.The substitution(degree) of the modified chitosan can reach 94% under the following reaction conditions:560 W microwave(power),3 min reaction time,reactant ratio(n(chitosan)/n(lauraldehyde)) of 1∶[KG-*3/5]2.6,and molar ratio of SDS to(lauraldehyde)(being) 0.15∶[KG-*3/5]1. Compared to(ordinary) reactions,the preparation of N-alkyl chitosan by microwave irradiation can be finished within very short reaction time.
