Hydrolysis of oligosaccharides by polyelectrolytes

The hydrolysis of maltotriose, maltose, cellobiose and gentiobiose, at a concentration of 1% (w/v), have been investigated in 0.20 N sulphuric acid and 0.2 N polystyrene sulphonic acid. The apparent rate constants determined by high pressure liquid chromatography are compared and their dependence on temperature is given. The thermodynamic parameters of reaction with both acids are deduced. The catalytic effect of the polyacid, expressed by the ratio of the rate constants at a given temperature, is discussed in terms of the condensation of the counterions.