Figure 17.

Schematic representation of the hydrogen dynamics in the vicinity of the chitosan chains in hydrated chitosan. Chitosan (dark gray), the side chains (hydroxyl and amino groups) of chitosan bearing dissociable hydrogen atoms (gray), the mobile hydration water (oxygen: light blue, hydrogen: blue), and the dissociated hydrogen atoms (translucent). The hydrogen atom of the chitosan amino group is dissociated as a proton and diffuses to a nearby hydration water molecule to form a hydronium ion. In addition, the hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups are dissociated as protons and diffuse to nearby hydration water molecules followed by successive jumping to other water molecules to form hydronium ions.