“…The functional groups present in the PSA/OMMT composite and its precursor are shown in Figure 3. The PSA spectrum contains a broad peak at around 3408 cm −1 corresponding to the hydroxyl stretching vibration in the polysaccharide chain [36], 2 narrow peaks at 2925 and 1639 cm −1 attributed, respectively, to the C-H stretching of the CH 2 groups in the amylose/amylopectin-rich polymer and the adsorbed water [23], and 3 further peaks at 1156, 1028, and 928 cm −1 that can be associated with the C-O, and C-O-C stretching vibrations in the α-1,4 glycosidic linkage [36]. The characteristic absorption bands for Ca-MMT clay appear at about 3627, 3417, 1642, 1042, 532, and 460 cm −1 , whereas, for OMMT bands appear at 3627, 3417, 2919, 2848, 1642, 1516, 1467, 1042, 532, and 460 cm −1 .…”