Exploring the potential of N-acylated chitosan for the removal of toxic pollutants from wastewater

Abstract Modified chitosan was prepared by chemical derivatisation using caproyl and palmitoyl fatty acid chains. The performance of the materials on the removal of phosphates in aqueous solutions was evaluated through a series of batch adsorption experiments. The phosphate adsorption studies showed enhanced adsorption efficiencies for caproyl chitosan (63%) and for palmitoyl chitosan (71%) in aqueous solutions containing phosphate at a pH of 6.2. The pristine and modified chitosans showed increases in the removal efficiency at an optimal solution pH of 4. The adsorption kinetics studies performed on palmitoyl-chitosan indicated that a contact time of approximately 30 minutes is required to reach equilibrium at solution concentrations ranging from 10-20 mg/l. Co-existing anions such as nitrates and sulphates do affect the phosphate removal efficiency of modified chitosans in aqueous solutions. This study demonstrates that modified chitosans has the potential of being used as a rigid and degradable material for water treatment.