Sorbents based on N-(2-carboxyethyl)chitosan cross-linked by nanosecond electron beams

Methods for the synthesis of new chelating chitosan derivatives containing 2-carboxyethyl groups were developed. Their macromolecules were cross-linked by the irradiation with a nanosecond electron beam, which gave for the first time sorbents with a high sorption capacity for CuII ions. The maximum sorption capacity, which is achieved in the pH range 6.5–7.2. and the Langmuir adsorption constant of Cu2+ ions on the sorbent with the degree of substitution 0.91 are 1.37 mmol g−1 and 152.51 L mol−1, respectively. The structures of the formed complexes in the sorbent phase were characterized by ESR spectroscopy.