Chapter 7
Use of Diethylenetriamine Grafted
onto Glyoxal Cross-Linked Chitosan
Beads for Efficient Batch System
Adsorption
Abstract This study examined the removal of synthesized wastewater ions Cu(II),
Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Cr(VI) using modified chitosan material. Chitosan
beads (CS) were produced and interlinked with glyoxal solution. Cross-linking was
observed to intensify the mechanical intensity and chemical firmness of the beads in
acid mixture and also to intensify the crystallinity of the beads in the process, which
is a drawback, as the beads tend to have decreased rate of removal of adsorbate. The
cross-linked chitosan beads (DCS) were grafted with diethylenetriamine to reduce
this drawback. Before tests of adsorption, the beads were characterized. The amine
concentration of the grafted cross-linked beads (GDCS) was observed to be almost
equal to the binding capability (q max ); this suggests that the chitosan amine group is
the most reactive group. The q max was found to be 6.3 mmol/g with a grafting degree
of 44.2%. However, with the Swan model, where the experimental and simulated
data were in near agreement, the kinetics of the adsorption process was represented
relatively well. The effective diffusion coefficients (D eff ) found by applying the model
to the data from the experimental were observed to be in the range of 2.25 × 10
−10
and 2.50 × 10
−10 for adsorption to GDCS by Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ni(II)
and Cr(VI).
7.1 Introduction
Pollution in the atmosphere arising from heavy metals poses a significant threat to
human and marine life. Such heavy metals are non-biodegradable, including copper,
lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel and chromium, and can accumulate in living organisms
[1, 2]. Studies have shown that heavy metals constitute one of the main disease
factors in living species. The primary cause of these carcinogenic metal ions is the
ever-increasing factories, leading to urbanization. These industries, including mining,
leather, tannery, metal plating, steel producers and plants that use water as a coolant,
create considerable quantities of adsorbate, and particular attention must be paid to
their damaging effects [3–5]. Damaging symptoms reported in the past as a result
of exposure to these adsorbates include dermatitis, coughing, extreme bronchitis,
diarrhoea, gastrointestinal distress, lung disease, diarrhoea, circulatory collapse,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Igberase et al., Enhanced Chitosan Material for Water Treatment,
Engineering Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71722-3_7
135
Use of Diethylenetriamine Grafted
onto Glyoxal Cross-Linked Chitosan
Beads for Efficient Batch System
Adsorption
Abstract This study examined the removal of synthesized wastewater ions Cu(II),
Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Cr(VI) using modified chitosan material. Chitosan
beads (CS) were produced and interlinked with glyoxal solution. Cross-linking was
observed to intensify the mechanical intensity and chemical firmness of the beads in
acid mixture and also to intensify the crystallinity of the beads in the process, which
is a drawback, as the beads tend to have decreased rate of removal of adsorbate. The
cross-linked chitosan beads (DCS) were grafted with diethylenetriamine to reduce
this drawback. Before tests of adsorption, the beads were characterized. The amine
concentration of the grafted cross-linked beads (GDCS) was observed to be almost
equal to the binding capability (q max ); this suggests that the chitosan amine group is
the most reactive group. The q max was found to be 6.3 mmol/g with a grafting degree
of 44.2%. However, with the Swan model, where the experimental and simulated
data were in near agreement, the kinetics of the adsorption process was represented
relatively well. The effective diffusion coefficients (D eff ) found by applying the model
to the data from the experimental were observed to be in the range of 2.25 × 10
−10
and 2.50 × 10
−10 for adsorption to GDCS by Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ni(II)
and Cr(VI).
7.1 Introduction
Pollution in the atmosphere arising from heavy metals poses a significant threat to
human and marine life. Such heavy metals are non-biodegradable, including copper,
lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel and chromium, and can accumulate in living organisms
[1, 2]. Studies have shown that heavy metals constitute one of the main disease
factors in living species. The primary cause of these carcinogenic metal ions is the
ever-increasing factories, leading to urbanization. These industries, including mining,
leather, tannery, metal plating, steel producers and plants that use water as a coolant,
create considerable quantities of adsorbate, and particular attention must be paid to
their damaging effects [3–5]. Damaging symptoms reported in the past as a result
of exposure to these adsorbates include dermatitis, coughing, extreme bronchitis,
diarrhoea, gastrointestinal distress, lung disease, diarrhoea, circulatory collapse,
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
E. Igberase et al., Enhanced Chitosan Material for Water Treatment,
Engineering Materials, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71722-3_7
135