Abstract: Under the condition of simulated gastric juice in vitro, the effect of chitosan to scavenge nitrite was studied. The scavenging rate was determined by spectrophotometric method. The effects of reaction time, the chitosan's use level, the deacetylated degree and the molecular weight to scavenge nitrite were investigated. The results showed that the scavenging capability of chitosan to nitrite increased with the extension of reaction time. The level increase of chitosan's use, the enhancement of the deacetylated degree and the reduction of molecular weight.37.5mg by 85% deacetylated chitosan could scavenge nitrite wholly.

Key words: chitosan, nitrite, scavenge, the degree of deacetylated, molecular weight