Synthesis and characterisation of nano chitosan/PVP/SF for environmental engineering applications

ABSTRACT

Chitosan is an amino polysaccharide, a biopolymer obtained from the N-deacetylation of chitin that has been utilised for environmental and some pharmaceutical applications, and it is valuable in creating composite materials. Nano chitosan has great physicochemical properties and an ecofriendly material, bonded with hydroxyl and amino groups of chitosan. In the present work, an investigation was led to prepare ternary blend nano chitosan/PVP/silk fibroin (1:2:0.5). Glutaraldehyde was utilised as a crosslinker that could enhance mechanical and thermal properties. Blends were prepared by sol–gel strategy. Structural and physical properties of blends are considered through FTIR, TGA. Surface and cross sectional morphology is studied by SEM, and amorphous changes are examined through XRD analysis. The results revealed that the proposed blend has good compatibility with different environmental applications including waste water treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Nano chitosan
• PVP
• silk fibroin
• glutaraldehyde

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.