Effects of esterification on the structural, physicochemical, and flocculation properties of dextran.

Dextran is an interesting starting material to design new functional polymers by chemical modification. Potential applications of dextran in water treatment should be increasingly developed and the structure properties of dextran derivatives should be focused on. In the study, dextran ester was synthesized through the esterification reaction of hydroxyl. The structure and some physicochemical properties of synthesized dextran ester were characterized and further analyzed. And we found that dextran ester could exert desirable flocculation performance in both kaolin and sugarcane juice under acidic conditions but not lower than pH 4. Our obtained flocculant was readily-available, sustainable and environmental friendly, which is suitable for juice flocculation process.