Chitin-graphene oxide nanosheet hybrid materials: Applicability as biosorbents

J.A. GONZÁLEZ; M.F. MAZZOBRE; M.E. VILLANUEVA; L.E. DIAZ; G.J. COPELLO

MendoZA

Congreso; XLVIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2012

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

There is great interest in developing low-cost materials with sorption properties for serveral targets. This interest relays on a large amount of byproducts and industrial waste that can be used as biosorbents of a wide variety of compounds with affinity and capacity comparable or superior to the classics sorption systems. The target of these materials could be undesired pollutants, such as heavy metals or organic compounds, or specific products from different industries, such as proteins or hormones. The aim of this work is to study the development of nanostructured hybrid materials for use as biosorbents. These consist of a biopolymer, chitin, together with graphene oxide nanosheets in its composition. Chitin endows the material with a inert and stable support. The great surface area of graphene oxide adds adsorption capacity to chitin together with the hybrid mechanical reinforcement. The driving purpose of the work is the development of versatile answer to the pollution of natural waters and sewage effluent applicable for industrial producers. Also, the versatility of the materials were tested in turn on the adsorption of proteins as a model for industrial purification. With this purpose several chitin-graphene oxide nanosheet ratios were evaluated in their material mechanical properties and adsorption behavior against model organic pollutants and proteins.