Open AccessModification of heavy metal uptake efficiency by modified chitosan/anionic surfactant systems
Author(s) -
Negm Nabel A.,
Ali Hanan Elsharkawy
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.200900110
Subject(s) - chitosan , chelation , metal , metal ions in aqueous solution , pulmonary surfactant , chemistry , heavy metals , aqueous solution , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
Abstract The presence of toxic heavy metals in natural environments entails a potential health hazard for humans. Metal contaminants in these environments are usually tightly bound to colloidal particles and organic matter. On the other hand, the potential of these metals towards chelation by different chelating agents presents a good characteristic for their removal from the environment. On this basis, two chitosan/anionic surfactant complexes were prepared and evaluated for their ability to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions. The experimental results of the uptake of metal ions including Cu 2+ , Sn 2+ , Co 2+ and Ni 2+ are reported in this study. The results show that modified chitosan with short‐spacer group cross‐linkers has a higher potential for heavy metal uptake than long‐chain cross‐linker‐modified chitosan. Also, increasing the electronegativity of the heavy metals increases their uptake from the medium. Increasing the time of exposure of the heavy metals to the modified polymer increases the efficiency of the metal uptake process.