Metal-chelate sorbents based on carboxyalkylchitosans: Ciprofloxacin uptake by Cu(II) and Al(III)-chelated cryogels of N-(2-carboxyethyl) chitosan

Here we propose a metal-chelate approach to removal of fluoroquinolones from aqueous solutions using their ability to bind strongly divalent and trivalent metal ions immobilized in a polymer matrix. Metal-affine sorbents for ciprofloxacin uptake have been fabricated via chelation of Cu(II), Al(III), and Fe(III) ions by supermacroporous cryogel of carboxyalkyl chitosan derivative (N-(2-carboxyethyl)chitosan, CEC) cross-linked with hexamethylene diisocyanate in aqeous medium. We have shown that virgin CEC cryogel adsorbed ciprofoxacin in a cationic form via electrostatic interactions at pH > pI(CEC), but the efficacy of recovery was below 50% and strongly pH-dependent. Modification of CEC cryogel with Cu(II) and Al(Ill) ions improved the ciprofloxacin (CIP) recovery by up to 98% in the pH range 7-10, the sorption capacity and affinity for CIP of metal-chelate sorbents increased with metal content and reached maximum values of 280 and 390 mg/g for Cu(II) and Al(III)-chelated cryogels, respectively. The metal-chelated CEC cryogels were efficient for ciprofloxacin removal from solutions with environmentally relevant concentration (50 mu g/L) and were applicable as monolith sorbents under dynamic conditions. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.