Mid Sweden University

In this study, lightweight biobased foamed materials were successfully synthesized by the modification of renewable polysaccharides, such as starch and microcrystalline cellulose. Low-cost and nontoxic organic acids were utilized as catalysts in the first-step esterification reaction of the synthesis. The effects of different reaction conditions on the water absorbency and weight loss of freeze-casted polysaccharide–citrate–chitosan foams are discussed. Physical properties, such as pore-size distributions and compressive stress–strain curves, of the foams were determined. The characterization results show that the amide bonds formed between the carboxylic acid groups of polysaccharide–citrate and the amino groups of chitosan are crucial to the foamed material’s performance.