Characterization and synthesis of chitosan-silica gel and chitosan-bentonite composites for adsorption of heavy metals

There are several ways to curtail the cost of wastewater treatment. This desire was fuelled in the current study of different composites prepared with modified chitosan by immobilization onto bentonite and silica gel and their characterization by using different sensitive techniques such as FTIR, SEM-EDS and TGA. The assessment of synthesized composites was done for its suitability as bioadsorbent characteristics. Silica gel chitosan composite showed peaks at 1082 cm-1, 1316 cm-1 3420 cm-1 and at 3614 cm-1. While, bentonite chitosan composite reveals major peak 1572 cm-1, 3648 cm-1, 3462 cm-1, 1650 cm-1 and 1001cm-1. SEM-EDS study showed their morphology, element composition that correlates the adsorption efficiency. However, TGA study showed their detailed study on thermal stability as more thermally stable compound which is the characteristic feature for adsorption and desorption phenomenon.