Preparation and metal uptake studies of modified forms of chitin

Application of polysaccharide biopolymers as natural adsorbent in sample preparation

Preparing samples for analyses is perhaps the most important part to analyses. The varied functional groups present on the surface of biopolymers bestow them appropriate adsorption properties. Properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, presence of different surface functional group, high porosity, considerable absorption capacity for water, the potential for modification, etc. turn biopolymers to promising candidates for varied applications. In addition, one of the most important parts of determination of an analyte in a matrix is sample preparation step and the efficiency of this step in solid phase extraction methods is largely dependent on the type of adsorbent used. Due to the unique properties of biopolymers they are considered an appropriate choice for using as sorbent in sample preparation methods that use from a solid adsorbent. Many review articles have been published on the application of diverse adsorbents in sample preparation methods, however despite the numerous advantages of biopolymers mentioned; review articles in this field are very few. Thus, in this paper we review the reports in different areas of sample preparation that use polysaccharides-based biopolymers as sorbents for extraction and determination of diverse organic and inorganic analytes.

Isolation of Chitin from Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) and Its Usage to Metal Sorption

Chitin has become a desirable raw material used in various areas of life. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) can be a source of this substance. In the literature, there are many methods of obtaining chitin but there is no one universal method of isolating it. In this publication, we present various procedures for the isolation of chitin from H. illucens pupal exuviae. The obtained chitin variants were characterized using different techniques (optical and confocal microscopy, FTIR, XRD, EDX, thermogravimetric analysis). The tested chitin isolated with an efficiency of 5.69-7.95% was the α form with a crystallinity degree of 60% and maximum degradation temperature of 392 °C. Furthermore, we characterized the nickel ion biosorption process on chitin and proposed the mechanism of this process to be ion exchange and complexation. There have been no such studies thus far on the isolation of chitin from H. illucens exuviae or on the biosorption of nickel ions on this type of biosorbent. The conducted research can be used to develop the application of chitin as a metal biosorbent that can be obtained with relatively high efficiency and good sorption properties.

A systematic review on carbohydrate biopolymers for adsorptive remediation of copper ions from aqueous environments-part A: Classification and modification strategies

Copper is one of the most toxic heavy metals which must be eliminated from aqueous environments, according to the environmental standards. Carbohydrate biopolymers are promising candidates for synthesizing copper-adsorbent composites. It is due to unique properties such as having potential adsorptive functional sites, availability, biocompatibility and biodegradability, formability, blending capacity, and reusability. Different types of copper-adsorbent carbohydrate biopolymers like chitosan and cellulose with particular focus on the synthesizing and modification approaches have been tackled in this review. Composites, functionality and morphological aspects of the biopolymer adsorbents have also been surveyed. Further progress in the fabrication and application of biopolymer adsorbents would be achievable with special attention to some critical challenges such as the process economy, copolymer and/or (nano) additive selection, and the physicochemical stability of the biopolymer composites in aqueous media.

Chitin and Chitinases: Biomedical And Environmental Applications of Chitin and its Derivatives

Disposal of chitin wastes from crustacean shell can cause environmental and health hazards. Chitin is a well known abundant natural polymer extracted after deproteinization and demineralization of the shell wastes of shrimp, crab, lobster, and krill. Extraction of chitin and its derivatives from waste material is one of the alternative ways to turn the waste into useful products. Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin. Chitinases contribute to the generation of carbon and nitrogen in the ecosystem. Chitin and chitinolytic enzymes are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications. The presence of surface charge and multiple functional groups make chitin as a beneficial natural polymer. Due to the reactive functional groups chitin can be used for the preparation of a spectrum of chitin derivatives such as chitosan, alkyl chitin, sulfated chitin, dibutyryl chitin and carboxymethyl chitin for specific applications in different areas. The present review is aimed to summarize the efficacy of the chitinases on the chitin and its derivatives and their diverse applications in biomedical and environmental field. Further this review also discusses the synthesis of various chitin derivatives in detail and brings out the importance of chitin and its derivatives in biomedical and environmental applications.

Efficient removal of copper ions using a hydrogel bead triggered by the cationic hectorite clay and anionic sodium alginate

Sodium alginate (SA) is a linear biopolymer, which is the nontoxic, biodegradable, and rich in carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. In the paper, the SA-based hydrogel bead was prepared by the cationic hectorite clay and anionic sodium alginate with a simple ionic gelation method under freeze-drying, and the adsorption properties were evaluated by the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions. The composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET), thermal analysis (TG), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were used to describe the kinetic data and the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R), and Temkin models were applied to describe the adsorption isotherms. The results showed that the adsorption process was found to follow the Freundlich isotherm model and the maximum sorption capacity was observed to be 160.28 mg/g under the initial concentration from 10 to 700 mg/L at 45 °C. Adsorption kinetics data fitted well with pseudo-second-order rate model. The porous structure of the composite was responsible for the adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions. But the adsorption ability could be improved by pH. Finally, the adsorption mechanism was suggested. Graphical abstract.

Synthesis of magnetic alginate beads based on magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) nanoparticles for removal of Sr (II) from aqueous solution: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies

Novel magnetic alginate beads (MagAlgbeads) have been developed by incorporation of magnesium ferrite (MgFe₂O₄) in alginate beads with the aim of using them in the removal of strontium from aqueous solution. MagAlgbeads were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption of strontium onto MagAlgbeads were found to depend on pH and strontium removal increases with increasing pH until pH is 6. Strontium adsorption kinetics run through pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamically, strontium adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous. Langmuir isotherm gave good fitting for strontium removal with adsorption capacity of 505.5 mg/g. These results proved that the prepared MagAlgbeads are very efficient material for strontium adsorption.

Treatment of model solutions and wastewater containing selected hazardous metal ions using a chitin/lignin hybrid material as an effective sorbent

A chitin/lignin material with defined physicochemical and morphological properties was used as an effective adsorbent of environmentally toxic metals from model systems. Particularly significant is its use in the neutralization of real industrial wastes. The ions Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were adsorbed on the functional sorbent, confirming the high sorption capacity of the newly obtained product, primarily due to the presence on its surface of numerous active functional groups from the component biopolymers. The kinetics of the process of ion adsorption from model solution were investigated, and the experimental data were found to fit significantly better to a type 1 pseudo-second-order kinetic model, as confirmed by the high correlation coefficient of 0.999 for adsorption of both nickel(II) copper(II) zinc(II) and lead(II) ions. The experimental data obtained on the basis of adsorption isotherms corresponded to the Langmuir model. The sorption capacity of the chitin/lignin material was measured at 70.41 mg(Ni²⁺)/g, 75.70 mg(Cu²⁺)/g, 82.41 mg(Zn²⁺)/g and 91.74 mg(Pb²⁺)/g. Analysis of thermodynamic parameters confirmed the endothermic nature of the process. It was also shown that nitric acid is a very effective desorbing (regenerating) agent, enabling the chitin/lignin material to be reused as an effective sorbent of metal ions. The sorption abilities of the chitin/lignin system with respect to particular metal ions can be ordered in the sequence Ni²⁺<Cu²⁺<Zn²⁺<Pb²⁺. Tests were also performed with the adsorption of ions of nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and lead(II) from wastewater obtained from galvanization and battery production plants, confirming the ability of the chitin/lignin sorbent to adsorb harmful ions from real industrial wastes.

Natural Minerals Coated by Biopolymer Chitosan: Synthesis, Physicochemical, and Adsorption Properties

Natural minerals are widely used in treatment technologies as mineral fertilizer, food additive in animal husbandry, and cosmetics because they combine valuable ion-exchanging and adsorption properties together with unique physicochemical and medical properties. Saponite (saponite clay) of the Ukrainian Podillya refers to the class of bentonites, a subclass of layered magnesium silicate montmorillonite. Clinoptilolits are aluminosilicates with carcase structure. In our work, we have coated biopolymer chitosan on the surfaces of natural minerals of Ukrainian origin - Podilsky saponite and Sokyrnitsky clinoptilolite. Chitosan mineral composites have been obtained by crosslinking of adsorbed biopolymer on saponite and clinoptilolite surface with glutaraldehyde. The obtained composites have been characterized by the physicochemical methods such as thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyses (DTA, DTG, TG), differential scanning calorimetry, mass analysis, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine possible interactions between the silica and chitosan molecule. The adsorption of microquantities of cations Cu(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), and Pb(II) by the obtained composites and the initial natural minerals has been studied from aqueous solutions. The sorption capacities and kinetic adsorption characteristics of the adsorbents were estimated. It was found that the obtained results have shown that the ability of chitosan to coordinate heavy metal ions Zn(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), and Fe(III) is less or equal to the ability to retain ions of these metals in the pores of minerals without forming chemical bonds.

Interaction of chitosan beads with a copper–naproxen metallodrug

A new hybrid material resulting from the interaction of chitosan beads with a copper–naproxen metallodrug was prepared and characterized. The Acrycoat-coated beads were investigated for release behavior in gastric/intestinal pH simulated solutions.