Preparation and characterization of chitosan-zeolite composites

Double crosslinked chitosanzeolite (CZ-2) and noncrosslinked chitosanzeolite (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 2? = 19.8 degrees. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012