Cyclic voltammetric investigations on copper α-N,O-succinated chitosan interactions

Pd-Fe nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan derivatives for perchloroethene dechlorination

A series of chitosan-stabilized Pd-NZVI (nano-zero-valent-iron) catalysts for dechlorination with variation in their composition and in the nature of the polymer has been prepared. The synthesis procedures and palladium and chitosan contents were optimized. It was demonstrated by the XPS method that Fe and Pd in Fe-Pd/chitosan samples exist in the metallic state. The positive shift of the binding energy as compared with the bulk metal shows that the iron metal in the surface layers exists as very small nanoparticles. The prepared materials were characterized also by the XAS method. The presence of O and N atoms in the first coordination shell of the central Fe atom in the Fe-Pd/chitosan samples certifies the binding of the Fe metal particles with the chitosan surface via OH and NH(2) groups. The samples are characterized by the high stability of the nanoparticles as compared to unstabilized Pd-NZVI. The materials were tested to evaluate their catalytic activity in the perchloroethene (PCE) dechlorination reaction. Some samples of chitosan-stabilized Pd-NZVI revealed a good performance in PCE degradation as compared to unstabilized Pd-NZVI.

Ethylenesulfide as a useful agent for incorporation into the biopolymer chitosan in a solvent-free reaction for use in cation removal

Chitosan (Ch) was chemically modified with ethylenesulfide (Es) under solvent-free conditions to give (ChEs), displaying a high content of thiol groups due to opening of the three member cyclic reagent. Elemental analysis showed a decrease in nitrogen content. This result indicated the incorporation of two ethylenesulfide molecules for each unit of the polymeric structure of the precursor biopolymer. Infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and (13)C NMR in the solid state demonstrated the effectiveness of the reaction, with signals at 30 ppm for ChEs due to the change in the methylene group environment. Divalent metal uptake by chemically modified biopolymer gave the order Cu>Ni>Co>Zn, reflecting the corresponding acidity of these cations in bonding to the sulfur and the basic nitrogen atoms available on the pendant chains. The equilibrium data were fitted to Freundlich, Temkin, and Langmuir models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity for the cations was found to be 1.54+/-0.02, 1.25+/-0.03, 1.13+/-0.01, and 0.83+/-0.03 mmol g(-1), respectively. The Langmuir model best explained the cation-sulfur bond interactions at the solid-liquid interface. The thermodynamics for these interactions gave exothermic enthalpic values of -43.02+/-0.03, -28.72+/-0.02, -26.27+/-0.04, and -17.32+/-0.02 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The spontaneity of the systems is given by negative Gibbs free energies of -31.2+/-0.1, -32.7+/-0.1, -31.7+/-0.1, and -32.2+/-0.1 kJ mol(-1), respectively, in spite of the unfavorable negative entropic values of -39+/-1, -13+/-1, -18+/-1, and -49+/-1 J K(-1)mol(-1) due to solvent ordering in the course of complexation. This newly synthesized biopolymer is presented as a chemically useful material for cation removal from aqueous solution.