Chitosan-polyglycidol complexes to coating iron oxide particles for dye adsorption

Abstract The study sheds light on the interaction between chitosan (Ch) and polyglycidol (PGL) and uses their interpolymer complex in hydrophilic coating of iron oxide particles (M). Preliminary investigations were performed by modeling chitosan and polyglycidol chains interactions using coarse grained beads approximation and molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that Ch and PGL chains associate together forming weak strength complexes, which was experimentally confirmed by surface tension, fluorescence and FTIR. The Ch-PGL mixture (C) and sodium dodecylsulfate (S) were used for layer-by-layer preparation of hydrophilic multilayer coatings of M. The successful covering, demonstrated by DLS, Zeta potential, FTIR, EDAX, preserved the particles super-paramagnetic properties. The most stable multilayer nanocomposite (MSCS) efficiently adsorbed methylene blue from water. The Freundlich model fitted well the equilibrium isotherm data, indicating a heterogeneous, multilayer adsorption. Benefiting from both nano-size and magnetic properties, this adsorbent could be an effectively, cheaply and eco-friendly wastewater treatment means.