Chitosan/ zeolite composite membranesa for efficent elimination materials to heavy metals from aquoes solutions

Abstract

Chitosan and zeolite were composited by incorporation of zeolite into chitosan membranes in varying amounts from 50 to 100wt% of chitosan and glutaraldehyde was used to crosslinking.The zeolite loading in the chitosan membranes was varied in the range of 10%-30%, showing high mechanical properties even in the high zeolite loading. Potential adsorption targeted to waste elimination of heavy metal cations was carried out by using the chitosan-zeolite composite membranes. In the permeation experiment, the selectivity of the composite membranes to especially chromium (Cr) was observed in the order of Cr>As>Cd >Hg>Pb>Cu. It was noted that the composite membrane having zeolite loading with 30 wt.% showed the highest performance adsorption selectivity. These results reveal that the composite membranes had a potential avility to purify wastewater by removing heavy metal ions.