Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan for Heavy Metal Ions Removal

Abstract

Chitosan and cross-linked chitosan with epichlorohydrin beads was prepared with the aim of reversibly adsorb and release of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.The present work was orgnized in three main parts. During the first part of the study, chitosan beads was prepared by dissolving 3.0 g chitosan in 100 mL 2% acetic acid solution, and the solution was dropped into 2 M sodium hydroxide solution. The prepared chitosan beads puted into a flask with 100 mL sodium hydroxide (pH 10), and some amount of epichlorohydrin was added as cross-linking agent and stirred at 60C for 6 h. the chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads washed extensively with distilled water and stored for use.The characterization of the prepared chitosan and crosslinked chitosan was carried out by using Swelling Test, Elemental Analysis method, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image, specific surface area measurements, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques.