Preparation and characterization of chitosan–zeolite composites

Abstract

Abstract Double crosslinked chitosan–zeolite (CZ‐2) and noncrosslinked chitosan–zeolite (CZ‐0) composites were prepared and characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, surface area analyzer, scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) spectrometer, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), X‐ray diffraction analyzer (XRD) and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen (CHN) analyzer. After crosslinking, CZ‐2 showed a reduction in surface area and CHN content in comparison to chitosan, zeolite, and CZ‐0. Crosslinking resulted in improved stability of CZ‐2 in distilled water, acetic acid and NaOH as CZ‐2 recorded the lowest percentage of swelling. XRD diffractograms confirmed the formation of composites as there was a marked difference in the peak intensity at 2θ = 19.8°. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012