ABSTRACT
Abstract: Polysaccharides, planet’s most abundant organic compounds, are at the forefront of current research as they are non-toxic, biodegradable and renewable in nature with low carbon footprint. Inulin is one of the most plentiful carbohydrates occurring in plant kingdom and is found in many regularly consumed vegetables, fruits and cereals as a storage carbohydrate. From a chemical point of view, its structural motif consists mainly, if not exclusively of β (2→1) fructosyl fructose units. The presence of reactive functional groups in the structural framework of inulin provides a handle to synthesize variety of non-ionic, anionic and cationic inulin derivatives. Non-ionic inulin derivatives can be easily synthesized using aqueous microwave assisted methodology whereas anionic and cationic functionalities can be conveniently tethered to the inulin framework using nucleophilic substitution reactions. This results in a number of versatile products, of diverse
applications in coal ne occulation, waste water treatment, algal occulation and drug delivery.
