Preparation and copper ions adsorption properties of thiosemicarbazide chitosan from squid pens

Chitosan was prepared by alkaline N-deacetylation of β-chitin from squid pens. Thiosemicarbazide group was introduced to chitosan via formaldehyde-derived linkages, and thiosemicarbazide chitosan (TSFCS) with different degrees of substitution (DS) was synthesized. The DS values of TSFCS calculated by elemental analysis were 0.19, 0.36 and 0.63. The structure of the TSFCS was confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II) ions by TSFCS showed good correlation with the DS and pH (pH range 2.2–5.8). The maximum Cu(II) ions adsorption capacity of all three TSFCS samples reached 134.0   mg   g −1 at pH 3.6, but chitosan showed no adsorption at this pH. The adsorption equilibrium process of Cu(II) ions onto TSFCS was better described by the Langmuir model than the Freundlich isotherm model. Cu(II) ions adsorbed by TSFCS could be released using 0.01   M Na 2 EDTA and the adsorption capacity could retain above 80% after five adsorption-desorption cycles. TSFCS exhibited good potential for heavy metal removal because of its high adsorption capacity at the low pH.