CHITOSAN BASED ELASTOMERIC BLENDS

This book presents the dielectric properties and dye adsorption studies of novel NR/CS blends. The electrical properties of blends have been studied in the frequency range 102-106 Hz. Blending of chitosan with a non-polar polymer such as natural rubber is expected to improve the dielectric performance of chitosan, by reducing the polarity. Special attention has been paid to analyze the effect of blend composition, vulcanization of the major phase and the influence of compatibilisation using maleic anhydride on the dielectric properties of NR/CS blends. The temperature dependence of dielectric properties has also been studied. Adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of methylene blue (MB) cationic dye from its aqueous solution using NR/CS blend as adsorbent. The factors influencing adsorption capacity of the blend such as initial concentration of dye, weight fraction of CS in the blend, compatibilisation and vulcanization of the blend were investigated. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to the experimental data in order to understand the mechanism of adsorption.