| abstract |
A process is disclosed herein comprising the step of contacting an esterifying agent and a polysaccharide in the presence of a solvent and suitable reaction conditions for a reaction time sufficient to form a product comprising a polysaccharide ester composition, wherein the polysaccharide ester composition comprises a polysaccharide ester having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3; wherein the esterifying agent comprises an acyl halide, a phosphoryl halide, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a haloformic acid ester, a carbonic acid ester, or a vinyl ester; and the ratio of esterifying agent to polysaccharide is in the range of about 0.001:1 to about 3:1 on a molar equivalent basis. In one embodiment, the polysaccharide comprises poly alpha-1,3-glucan. |