Capsules were prepared from chitosan (QTS)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend by saline coacervation and then by formalization. A adsorbent based on chitosan, insoluble on acid solution, was obtained. The morphology, average diameters of QTS/PVA capsules and their pores were studied by using scanning electron microscopy. The entrapment-adsorption of dimethylglioxime and ethylenediaminetetracetate by the capsules were studied. The removal of the ion nickel (II) and copper (II), was more effective than by using unloaded capsules.

A adsorção dos corantes aniônicos alaranjado IV, alaranjado G e alaranjado de xilenol pela quitina foi estudada empregando a isoterma de Langmuir. Os parâmetros de adsorção foram determinados utilizando várias regressões lineares da isoterma. Os resultados revelaram que a capacidade de adsorção é dependente do pH. Em pH ácido, os grupos aminos do polímero estão protonados e a cadeia polimérica está carregada positivamente, predominando a adsorção por troca iônica. Deve ocorrer também em pequena extensão adsorção de van der Walls e por ligações de hidrogênio. Para o alaranjado de xilenol uma relação linear com coeficiente angular de 0,726 L mg-1 foi encontrada. O aumento da temperatura diminui a capacidade de adsorção pela quitina, devido ao aumento da etapa de desorção no mecanismo. Os valores de deltaH de -10,9 kJ mol-1 para o alaranjado G e -28,9 kJ mol-1 para o alaranjado IV comprovam uma adsorção de natureza física para estes corantes sobre a superfície da quitina.

The adsorption of the anionic dyes orange IV, orange G and xylenol orange on chitin was studied, employing the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption parameters were determined utilizing various linear regressions of the isotherm. The results showed that the adsorption capacity is dependent on pH. In acid pH, the polymer amino groups are protonated and the polymer chain is positively charged, with a predominance of adsorption through ion exchange. Van der Waals adsorption, as well as adsorption through hydrogen bonding, is also likely to occur to some extent. For xylenol orange, a linear regression was found, with an angular coefficient of 0.726 L mg-1. The temperature increase reduces adsorption capacity by chitin, due to the enhancement of the desorption step in the mechanism. deltaH values of -10.9 kJ mol-1 for orange G and -28.9 kJ mol-1 for orange IV prove the physical nature of the adsorption by these dyes on the chitin surface.

Adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solutions by N-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl) chitosan have been carried out. The Langmuir (L), Freundlich (F), Langmuir - Freundlich (LF), Redlich-Peterson (RP) and Tóth (T) adsorption isotherms models have been applied to fit the experimental data. Nonlinear regression computational program "Enzefitte", which is a library of the more commonly used adsorption isotherm equations for obtaining tabular outuput suitable for plotting theoretical of fitted isotherms, has been used to estimate the adsorption parameters. These parameters were used to calculate the amount adsorbed q calc., a function of concentration (C).