A Review of Chitosan-Based Materials for the Removal of Organic Pollution from Water and Bioaugmentation

Abstract

Chitin is a natural polymer extracted mostly from shrimp or crab shells and is the Earth's second most abundant polysaccharide. After a simple deacetylation procedure, chitin is converted into chitosan that consists in a polysaccharide structure of deacetylated-β-glucosamine. Chitosan has been largely employed in wastewater treatment the removal of colloids through coagulation-flocculation processes. Different chitosan based materials have been produced and tested in the removal of inorganic pollutants such as toxic metals and metalloids, nutrients, dyes, micropollutants and hydrocarbons. Sorbents such as magnetic-activated carbon chitosan have been successfully tested in the removal of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and amoxicillin) from water. Raw chitosan and ZnO nanoparticles entrapped in chitosan have demonstrated an excellent potential for the removal of the insecticide permethrin from aqueous effluents. Chitin and chitosan in flake and powder form have also demonstrated a promising effectiveness in the removal of oil spilled in seawater. Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic sponges modified by thioles have been also prepared from chitosan and used for the removal of oil spills. Chitosan hydrogels have been tested as well as entrapment matrices for the immobilization of hydrocarbon-degrading biomass for oil spills. Strains such as R. corynebacteriorides (QBTo), Bacillus subtilis LAMI008 and B. pumilus have been successfully immobilized and employed in hydrocarbon degradation processes. In this book chapter, the use of chitosan and chitosan-based materials in the removal of organic pollutants from water is reviewed.

Chitosan-Based Nanocomposite Polymeric Membranes for Water Purification—A Review

“…Chitosan and chitosan-based systems have uncovered a great potential in the detoxification of pollutants from waters and have shown great performance in the removal of toxic metals, such as Cr(VI) [ 298 , 299 ], As(V) [ 286 , 300 , 301 ], Mo(V) [ 302 ], Hg(II) [ 303 ], Cu(II) [ 283 , 296 ], and Pb(II) [ 304 , 305 ], but also have presented potential in removing inorganic species such as nutrients (NO 3 − , NO 2 − and PO 4 3− ) [ 306 , 307 ]. In addition to the diminishing of inorganic pollutants from wastewaters, chitosan was used as an adsorbent for organic pollutants [ 39 ].…”

“…Even if chitosan presents great qualities, such as low toxicity and high biodegradability, it still needs to overcome some other limitations regarding porosity, thermo-mechanical properties, and stability [ 19 , 39 ]. To pass these setbacks displayed by chitosan, researchers have devoted their efforts in developing different physicochemical modification methods that include functionalization through different chemical modifications of the polymer, which modified its properties for specific applications in various fields [ 40 ].…”

Experimental study on the effect of chitosan biopolymer on sandy soil stabilization

“…The properties of chitosan and its applications depend directly on the degree of acetylation and molecular weight of chitosan [15]. In environmental applications, chitosan is used for removal of water contamination such as heavy metals, hydro carbon and herbicides [17][18][19].…”

Optimization of continuous arsenic biosorption present in natural contaminated groundwater

“…Conventional sorbents for As removal such as activated carbon and alumina are being displaced by new low‐cost biosorbents such as plant biomass, algae, fungi, bacteria, and the biopolymers chitin and chitosan . Chitosan is a natural cationic aminopolysaccharide obtained by deacetylation of chitin, and several studies have reported that this polymer has good efficiency as an As sorbent . The presence of a large number of amino groups with affinity for arsenate ions, makes their favourable interaction possible.…”

“…[6][7][8] Chitosan is a natural cationic aminopolysaccharide obtained by deacetylation of chitin, and several studies have reported that this polymer has good efficiency as an As sorbent. 9,10 The presence of a large number of amino groups with affinity for arsenate ions, makes their favourable interaction possible. Its nontoxicity, abundance in nature and biodegradability are the main characteristics that make chitosan suitable for removing As from aqueous solutions.…”