• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.475-479
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• 2011

Chitosan is a natural polymer that has many physicochemical(polycationic, reactive OH and $NH_2$ groups) and biological(bioactive, biocompatible, and biodegradable) properties. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using poly-${\gamma}$-glutamic acid(${\gamma}$-PGA) as gelling agent. Nanoparticles were formed by ionic interaction between carboxylic groups in ${\gamma}$-PGA and amino groups in chitosan. Chitosan(0.1~1 g) was dissolved in 100 ml of acetic acid (1% v/v) at room temperature and stirred overnight to ensure a complete solubility. An amount of 0.1 g of ${\gamma}$-PGA was dissolved in 90 ml of distilled water at room temperature. Chitosan solution was dropped through needle into beaker containing ${\gamma}$-PGA solution under gentle stirring at room temperature. The average particle sizes were in the range of 80~300 nm. The prepared chitosan/${\gamma}$-PGA nanoparticles were used to examine their removal of several heavy metal ions($Cd^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and $Ni^{2+}$) as adsorbents in aqueous solution. The heavy metal removal capacity of the nanoparticles was in the order of $Cu^{2+}$ > $Pb^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Ni^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.457-462
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• 2005

Polyurethane foams (PUFs) were prepared from polymeric 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (PMDI), mixed polyol with OH value of 480, silicone surfactant, three catalysts, and hydrofluorocarbon(HFC) as blowing agent. Balance (PC-8), gelling (33LV), and trimerization (TMR-2) catalysts were used. The effect of the catalysts on the physical properties of PUF with increase of isocyanate (NCO) index and aging time was investigated. The cell size of the PUF with PC-8 and 33LV slightly increased with an increase in NCO index from 100 to 170 but compressive strength did not change significantly. In case of trimerization catalyst, the compressive strength of PUF increased from 8.75 to 1$10.5 kg_f/cm^2$ and the cell size decreased with an increase in NCO index. The compressive strength of the PUF with 33LV increased from 9.21 to $10.15 kg_f/cm^2$ with an increase in aging time. However, there was no detectable change in the compressive strength of PUF with TMR-2. A possible interpretation of the results includes an additional cross-link reaction of non-reacted MDI and FTIR spectrum illustrated the change of NCO peak.