Calcareous Chitin: a novel low-cost sorbent for cadmium

RODRÍGUEZ MARÍA SUSANA; ZALBA MARTA ; GOITÍA MARÍA TERESA; PUGLIESE ALICIA; DEBBAUDT ADRIANA; AGULLÓ ENRIQUE; SCHULZ PABLO; ALBERTENGO LILIANA

LATIN AMERICAN APPLIED RESEARCH

PLAPIQUI(UNS-CONICET)

Lugar: Bahia Blanca; Año: 2012 vol. 42

0327-0793

This research deals on a new low-cost porous sorbent named calcareous chitin (CaCh). CaCh is prepared by alkaline treatment of crustacean exoskeleton to produce a porous matrix of chitin and calcium carbonate free of original proteins. SEM-EDX, X-ray, FT-IR and studies were used to characterize the material. CaCh structure is more porous than that of chitin. Adsorption studies demonstrated its capability to remove Cd(II) from waters. The Langmuir equation fitted the adsorption isotherms well. Due to its easy, rapid and low cost preparation and its adsorption characteristics calcareous chitin can be used a low cost sorbent of heavy metals ions like Cadmium for wastewater