Binding of Co(II) and Cu(II) cations to chemically modified wool fibres: an IR investigation

Abstract Wool fibres were modified by treatment with tannic acid (TA) solution or by acylation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) dianhydride. The unmodified and modified fibres were subsequently treated with Cu 2+ and Co 2+ solutions, at alkaline pH, and analysed by Attenuated Total Reflectance, ATR/IR spectroscopy to evaluate the changes induced in the structure of the fibre by metal binding. The spectral changes were correlated to metal adsorption results obtained by Inductive Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The IR results were discussed in relation to our previous findings on the metal binding mode of Bombyx mori and Tussah silk fibres; the changes observed in the spectra were explained by considering the different affinity of the fibres for the modifying reagent and the amount of the metal absorbed. More relevant spectral changes were observed upon Cu 2+ complexation rather than Co 2+ complexation, according to the metal absorption results. The most relevant changes were observed for the EDTA-modified wool sample treated with Cu 2+ , according to the higher affinity of wool for EDTA. The IR spectra were quantitatively evaluated by the intensity ratio between the Amide I and Amide II bands (I AmideI /I AmideII ) and its trend as a function of metal absorption was reported. The present investigation demonstrated that the interaction between fibre and metal and the subsequent fibre modification depend on the chemical nature of the fibre, the metal cation and the modifying reagent.