Comparison of polysaccharide degradations by dynamic high-pressure homogenization

The mechanical degradation of polysaccharides was investigated using dynamic high and ultra-high-pressure homogenization (HPH). The objectives were to reduce the molar mass of polymer chains, and simultaneously, the apparent and intrinsic viscosity of polysaccharides in solution. The influence of homogenization pressure (up to 200 MPa) and cycles was compared on polysaccharides with different physical and structure properties: namely, guar gum, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC), sodium alginate (Na-alginate) and gum arabic. HPH was applied on semi-dilute solutions. The apparent changes in molar mass, gyration radius and intrinsic viscosity were deduced from size exclusion chromatography coupled on-line with multi-angle laser light scattering, differential viscometer detector and differential refractive index detector (SEC/MALS/DV/DRI), while the evolution of the critical overlap concentration (C^∗) was obtained by viscosimetry. A method based on a succession of homogenization cycles and polymer pre-concentration steps was developed to determine the minimum molar mass achieved at constant pressure. Molar mass, and intrinsic viscosity were shown to fall simultaneously while logically C^∗ increased during HPH for all polysaccharides, except gum arabic, probably because of its globular and branched structure. This highlights that the differences of polysaccharide structures and conformation (linear, branched…) exhibit a stronger impact on HPH treatments than polymer charge or molar mass. Finally, via an empirical approach linking the decrease of both molar masses and viscosities, we have evidenced a specific scaling exponent that should characterize the flexibility of the treated polymer (i.e. its ability to be degraded by HPH).