Preparation and Properties of the Chitosan/PVA Blend for Heavy Metals Chelation

Abstract

Current research based on the use of extracted chitosan mixed with Polyvinyl alcohol to manufacture blend that can been used in water purification from heavy metals such as copper, this due to chitosan properties and its ability to chelation these metals because of the presence of the functional groups in their structure. The blend has been treated with borax to increase the viscosity, and then high density polyethylene granulated coated with polymer solution to increase the surface area for chelation. The ultraviolet test showed the efficiency of blend to chelation of copper ions through lower the copper ions absorbance peak after each stage where the solution of copper ions pass on the polymer blend containing chitosan.