Cross-linked chitosan/chitin crystal nanocomposites with improved permeation selectivity and pH stability.
This study is aimed at developing and characterizing cross-linked bionanocomposites for membrane applications using chitosan as the matrix, chitin nanocrystals as the functional phase, and gluteraldehyde as the cross-linker. The nanocomposites' chemistry and morphology were examined by estimation of gel content, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), whereby the occurrence of cross-linking and nanoscale dispersion of chitin in the matrix was confirmed. Besides, cross-linking and chitin whiskers content were both found to impact the water uptake mechanism. Cross-linking provided dimensional stability in acidic medium and significantly decreased the equilibrium water uptake. Incorporation of chitin nanocrystals provided increased permeation selectivity to chitosan in neutral and acidic medium.
Mathew
Aji P
AP
Division of Manufacturing and Design of Wood and Bionanocomposites, Luleå University of Technology, Skellefteå, Sweden.
Laborie
Marie-Pierre G
MP
Oksman
Kristiina
K
D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053761:Nanocomposites; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010539:Permeability; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan