Calorimetric studies of the action of chitosan-N-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride on the growth of microorganisms

The water-soluble quaternary ammonium salt of chitosan was synthesized by reaction of chitosan with glycidyl trimethylammonium chloride. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectra. Its microbiostatic effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candid albicans were explored by microcalorimetry. The antimicrobial activity of the quaternized chitosan was stronger in alkaline condition than that in weak acidic condition.