Synthesis and properties of chitosan hydrogels modified with heterocycles

Preparation and properties of chitosan modified with heterocycles in absence or presence of gluteraldehyde as a cross linker is described. New modified chitosan-heterocyclic hydrogels were prepared from chitosan and heterocyclic compounds such as N,N'-biisomaleimide, N.N'-biisophthalimide, and N, N'-phthalimidomaleimide via a crosslinking reaction. The new hydrogels chemical structure was characterized by spectral analysis (IR), X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), solubility, and swellability in water and different organic solvents. Evaluation of the efficiency of the new hydrogels to uptake copper and cobalt ions from aqueous systems was carried out and promising results were obtained. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.