Chitosan/waste glass composite as new material for copper removal from contaminated water

Chitosan/waste glass composite material with different mass fractions was synthesized via sample mixing and pressing route. Synthesized materials were characterized and their structure was investigated through different characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the amorphous nature of studied base materials and their blends without any evidence for crystalization. Examined glass powder composition was found to be mainly soda-lime-silica with minor metal oxide additives correlated to the color of the glass. The stability and hydrophilicity of the investigated composite material were investigated using a swelling rate test. Obtained data shows that synthesized composite material can act as an adsorbent of copper ions through both chemical and
physical interactions. The investigated composite has a broad range of antibacterial activity against both grampositive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as a growing adsorption capacity for Copper (II) ions, indicating that it might be used in the copper removal process from aqueous solutions. Proposed material can be suggested to be used for other metal ions based on the condition of the initial water solution and environmental remediation