Synthesis and evaluation of chitosan aryl azacrown ethers as adsorbents for metal ions

New azacrown ether chitosan derivatives (CTS–OC, CTS–NC) were synthesized by reaction of aryl mesocyclic diamine with the C6 hydroxyl group or C2 amino group in chitosan. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, infrared spectra analysis, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The adsorption and selectivity properties of the aryl azacrown ethers chitosan derivatives for Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ag⁺, and Cr³⁺ were also investigated. The experimental results showed that the two chitosan–azacrown ethers have good adsorption capacity for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺. The adsorption capacity of CTS–OC are higher than that of CTS–NC for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The chitosan–azacrown ethers have high selectivity for the adsorption of Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ with the coexistence of Cd²⁺. The selectivity properties of CTS–OC are better than those of CTS–NC. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 3093–3098, 2000