Copper(II)-EDTA sorption onto chitosan and its regeneration applying electrolysis

The use of electrolysis enables to regenerate chitosan and to reuse it. During electrolysis copper is deposited onto the cathode and EDTA is oxidized onto the anode. The current efficiency depends on the current intensity, the load of chitosan and the pH of the background electrolyte. Electrolysis under the most favorable conditions ensures the 10-cycles regeneration without considerable changes in the sorption properties of chitosan. FT-IR spectra of the initial and regenerated chitosans are similar.