A Bifunctional Chitosan/Alginate Nanoparticles (CANPs) for Trace Metals Adsorption as well as Antibacterial Polyelectrolyte Complex (PEC) Materials

Chitosan/Alginate Nanoparticles (CANPs) were produced via the microemulsion method. SEM images captured that CANPs have rough, irregular, and porous surfaces. The particle sizes were in the range of 1-15 nm, with an average diameter of 8.31 nm. CANPs were applied for trace metals removal. The optimum adsorption capacity of Zn(II) and Cu(II) were 8.14 and 5.58 mg g-1, respectively. Kinetic studies show that Zn(II) and Cu(II) adsorption onto CANPs fitted a pseudo- second-order model. Isotherm studies determined that the sorption followed the Dubinin- radushkevich model. Zn(II) adsorbed CANPs (Zn/CANPs), and Cu(II) adsorbed CANPs (Cu/CANPs) were investigated for their antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) of Zn/CANPs were 19.3 mm (E. coli) and 17.5 mm (S. aureus). ZOI of Cu/CANPs were 14.17 mm (E. coli) and 10.75 mm (S. aureus). The results revealed that CANPs was a promising bifunctional material for metal removal and had good antibacterial activity