AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF CHITOSAN: VISCOMETRIC AND FLOCCULATION PROPERTIES

The hydrodynamic and flocculation properties of aqueous solution of chitosan (CS) were investigated at room temperature. The viscometric data of dilute CS solutions were discussed in terms of Wolf method as a function of polymer concentration, salt nature (NaCl, NaNO3, and CaCl2) and concentration. The flocculation properties in emulsions of some commercial pyrethroid insecticides (Fastac 10 EC (F), Decis (Dc) and Karate Zeon (KZ)) were evaluated. The viscosity measurements reveal that the experimental data fit well with the Wolf model and the [η] values decrease in salt aqueous solutions. For the same insecticide concentration (0.02%, v/v), UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements show maximum removal efficiency around 90% for Fastac 10EC and Decis and 80% for Karate Zeon. The residual KZ absorbance decreased with the increase of insecticide concentration in the initial emulsion, from 80% for the lowest concentration (0.02%, v/v) to around 90% for the highest one (0.06%, v/v). The supernatant zeta potential dependence on the chitosan dose pleads for the charge neutralization as the main mechanism for the flocculation of pyrethroid insecticide particles.