Solvent extraction behavior of O,O '-decanoylchitosan for metal ions

O,O'-Decanoylchitosan was synthesized from chitosan, a basic polysaccharide produced from shells of Crustacea such as crabs, shrimps and so on, by acy lating its hydroxyl groups. Although it was insoluble in aliphatic diluents such as kerosene, it was soluble in toluene and chloroform. Solvent extrac tion of some metal ions with O,O'-decanoylchitosan in chloroform was tested and compared with the adsorption on chitosan. It was found that iron(III) was not practically extracted with this solvent though it was selectively a dsorbed on chitosan over copper(II). Selective extractive separation of tra ce concentration of copper(II) was achieved from large excess of iron(III) at pH about 2.