Abstract
Naturally abundant biosorbants such as chitin and chitosan are recognized as excellent metal ligands, forming stable complexes with many metal ions, and serving as effective protein coagulating agents. Chitin isolated from crab processing discards was deacetylated over different time periods in order to obtain three types of chitosans [Type 1 (20 h), Type 2 (10 h) and Type3 (4 h)]. Chitosans so prepared were evaluated for their capacity to chelate metal ions in samples of water obtained from a zinc mining site (Buchans, Newfoundland). Metal chelation capacity of chitosan for wastewater was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at three different pH (5, 6 and 7). Chitosan served as an effective coagulating agent in removing proteins from wastewater as well as for the removal of metal ions [Hg(II), Fe(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)] from industrial wastewater, especially at pH 7, as measured by ICP-MS. Mercury was best chelated by all three types of chitosan under all pH conditions tested. In the protein flocculation study, Type 1 chitosan showed the best flocculation ability followed by Type 2 and Type 3 chitosans.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
