Preparation of chitosan–zinc oxide complex during chitin deacetylation

Novel chitosan–ZnO complexes are prepared using zinc chloride, sodium hydroxide and chitin as source materials by direct precipitation method. Four chitosan–ZnO complexes are prepared for different concentrations of source material. The chitosan–ZnO complex formations have been confirmed by FTIR spectroscopic analysis. Hexagonal structure and crystalline size (35–51 nm) of zinc oxide are determined by XRD. Rod-like particle shape of chitosan–ZnO complex from SEM images, higher UV rays absorption in the region of 200–275 nm by UV–vis and higher UV emission at 422 nm by photoluminescence spectrophotometer are recorded. The rod-like chitosan–zinc oxide was obtained with optimum concentration of 45% NaOH and 15% ZnCl2. The size of the complex was increased with increase of sodium hydroxide concentration.