Preparation of magnetic chitosan using local iron sand for mercury removal.

Preparation of magnetic chitosan for mercury removal from polluted water had been conducted. Magnetic particles (FeO) were isolated from local iron sand to provide magnetic properties of chitosan. Glutaraldehyde was used as crosslinking agent of chitosan. The obtained magnetic chitosan was characterized by using FTIR, TGA, DSC, XRD, and SEM. Adsorption experiments were conducted with various contact time, pH and initial concentration of mercury. The results showed glutaraldehyde and FeO decreased crystallinity of chitosan. Low crystallinity of polymer is favorable for adsorption due to the high accessibility of adsorbate to reach active sites of adsorbent. FTIR and SEM confirmed the formation of magnetic chitosan. Based on correlation coefficient (R) values, the adsorption mercury by magnetic chitosan fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.