*4.3. Characterization*

### 4.3.1. Scanning Electron Microscopy

A scanning electron microscope (Sirion 400 NC, FEI, Hillsboro, OR, USA) was used for determining the surface morphologies of the pectin aerogels and chitosan-coated pectin aerogels. The samples were fractioned and splatter-coated with gold particles prior to the analysis and then scanned at an accelerating voltage of 2–4 kV.
