Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan–Cu Complexes for Degradation of Organophosphorus Pesticides.

Imanuel Gauru, Norma Yanti Ahmad Umar, David Tambaru, Hermania Em Wogo

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Nusa Cendana University

Email : i_gauru@staf.undana.ac.id

Abstract. The chitosan from waste of shrimp shell were chosen as ligands to synthesize chitosan copper coordination complexes. Chitosan  metal complexes with metal ions Cu(II) were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, XRD and TGA. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of copper with crystalline nature. The interaction between the chitosan and the copper was studied using FTIR spectroscopy. The thermal degradation of metal complexes formed by chitosan with Cu(II) was studied by thermogravimetric analysis in a nitrogen atmosphere over the temperature range 25–800° C. The amine and hydroxy groups in chitosan molecule were considered as the dominating reactive sites. Degradation of organophosphorus pesticides by the chitosan – Cu complexes was studied using GC-MS.

Keywords: Chitosan, Copper, Complexes, Degradation, Pesticides