Preparation and characterisation of selected physicochemical and functional properties of β‐chitosans from squid pen

Squid pen β‐chitosans prepared under various deacetylation conditions (30%, 35%, 40% and/or 45% NaOH for 15, 30 and/or 60 min) were characterised. β‐Chitosans (deacetylated with 35–45% NaOH for 15–60 min) had 87.1–96.2% degree of deacetylation (DD), 93.5–96.7% solubility and 120.5–654.9 mPa s viscosity. Treatment with 30% NaOH for 15–60 min yielded inadequately deacetylated β‐chitosans (DD = 51.9–80.2%). Two chitosans prepared under 35% NaOH for 15 min and 45% NaOH for 30 min (designated as 35%–15 and 45%–30, respectively) were further compared. Drying (sun‐drying vs. oven‐drying) methods did not affect DD. 35%–15 chitosan exhibited lower nitrogen, DD and bulk density, but higher viscosity compared with 45%–30 chitosan. Higher water‐ and fat‐binding capacity but lower DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed for 35%–15 chitosan compared with 45%–30 chitosan. Compared with 45%–30 chitosan, 35%–15 chitosan exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes, but lower antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.