Cl. Lasko et al., ENHANCEMENT OF THE METAL-BINDING PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN THROUGH SYNTHETIC ADDITION OF SULFUR-CONTAINING AND NITROGEN-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS, Journal of applied polymer science, 48(9), 1993, pp. 1565-1570
Several new chitosan derivatives were synthesized with the intent of f
orming polymers that could be used in hazardous waste remediation as t
oxic metal-binding agents in aqueous environments. The ability of thes
e derivatives to bind Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and Fe2+ was tested and compar
ed to chitosan. Four of the new compounds, the products of the reactio
n of chitosan with mercaptosuccinic acid, thiirane, pyridoxal hydrochl
oride, and succinamide, show promising results as binding agents for t
he above metal ions. The compound with mercaptosuccinic acid bound twi
ce as much Cd2+, five times as much Pb2+, and virtually no Fe2+ when c
ompared to chitosan. The compound with thiirane bound three times as m
uch Pb2+, whereas the pyridoxal hydrochloride derivative bound 30% mor
e Cu2+ and twice the Pb2+. The succinamide derivative gave results com
parable to chitosan, but with decreased solubility at low pH.