Synchrotron Radiation Fourier Transform Infrared (SR-FTIR) spectroscopy in exploring crosslinked chitosan-rice husk bio-composites by gamma irradiation

Chitosan biomaterials have widely been used to absorb heavy metals from wastewater and aquatic system due to their low residue generation and the ability to recycle and reuse adsorbents. The chitosan polymer’s high abundance of amino groups also allows for numerous chemical changes to improve its adsorbent characteristics and adsorption capacity. This work synthesized the bio-composite from rice husk and coated it with chitosan solutions. The gamma irradiation had been applied to create the crosslinking chitosan to join two or more intermolecular or intramolecular by a covalent bonding that could give a more rigid structure and potentially a better-defined shape of the material. The Chitosan-Rice Husk bio-composite was irradiated using gamma radiation at a dose of 50, 100, 200, and 400 kGy. Synchrotron Radiation Fourier Transform Infrared (SR-FTIR) Spectroscopy results revealed the induced crosslinking formation of bio-adsorbents after irradiation. The surface topography and composition of samples were demonstrated by using SEM. The natural bioproduct or waste bioproduct is a new promising adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater.