Biopolymer Based Nanomaterials as Potential Biosorbents for Toxic Metal Ions

Abstract

In the present work ternary nanoparticles of chitosan, yeast and gelatin were prepared by emulsion crosslinking method and characterized by techniques like FTIR and TEM. Whereas the spectral studies confirm the presence of characteristic functional groups of the three biopolymers. The TEM analysis also reveal that the size of nanoparticles lie in the range 50 to 150 nm. The nanospheres so prepared were examined for removal of Cu (II) ions and it was found that the removal capacity of metal ions was more than 90 percent. The metal ion removal capacity of the nanoparticles was found to depend on the chemical composition of the adsorbent, concentration of the metal ion solution, pH and temperature of the medium and agitation speed of the suspension.