Solvent extraction of some metal ions with lipophilic chitosan chemically modified with functional groups of dithiocarbamate

O,O ' -Didecanoylchitosan chemically modified with functional groups of dit hiocarbamate was prepared. The extent of the immobilization of the function al groups onto one glucosamine unit of chitosan was 96%. It was soluble not only in chloroform and toluene but also in hexane and kerosene. Its solven t extraction behaviors for some base metal ions were examined. The order of the selectivity to these metal ions was found to be as follows: Cu(II)much greater than Ni(II)much greater than Fe(III)> Co(II)> Zn(II). The high sel ectivity to copper and nickel over iron is noteworthy.