Investigation of Chitosan-PVA Composite Films and Their Adsorption Properties

Abstract

Viscous aqueous solutions of chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were blended to enhance miscibility and avoid polymer phase separation. The mixtures were drop-casted and air dried to yield composite film materials that were characterized by equilibrium water uptake, physical stability in aqueous solution, and thermal stability. Chitosan/PVA blends have greater thermal stability, unique morphology, and reduced solubility in acidic solution, thus extending the useful pH range for chitosan as a sorbent material. The uptake properties of the films was investigated using methylene blue (MB) and a p-nitrophenol (PNP) dyes, where it was found that each single component polymer has greater uptake toward MB than PNP. A direct relationship between film composition (chitosan:PVA) with solution pH and the uptake of MB was observed. The results are in agreement with electrostatic interactions and contributions due to the hydrophobic effect for such composite materials.