Application of ionic solvents in the chemistry of chitin and chitosan biopolymers: Dissolution, regeneration and use in water decontamination from metal ions

• Grant number: 25/04998-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Omar Abou El Seoud
• Grantee: Nathália Florencio Peres
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/13668-4 - Innovative applications of ionic solvents in the chemistry of biopolymers, environmental chemistry, and in formulations for drugs with very low water solubility, AP.R

Abstract

The present MSc project is part of the Regular Research Grant approved by Fapesp, process 2024/13668-4, entitled "Innovative applications of ionic solvents in biopolymer chemistry, environmental chemistry, and formulations for pharmaceuticals with extremely low water solubility." This latter project will be referred to as Project P.The current MSc project focuses on optimizing the dissolution of biopolymers (BPs), chitin (Qn), and chitosan (Qs) in amino acid-based ionic liquids (AAILs); their regeneration; the derivatization of Qs with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid anhydride (DEDTA); and tests for the decontamination of water from Cu²¿ and Ni²¿ ions present in the Amazon region.The AAILs-DMSO mixtures will be used to reduce process costs and lower the viscosity of the BP/AAILs solution. Once dissolved, the BPs will be regenerated in a non-solvent form of nanoparticles (NPs), which will be characterized. The goal is to determine the dependence of the dissolved BP concentration on the properties of the binary mixtures. The Qs derivatization will be performed with DEDTA, and the product efficiency will be evaluated in the decontamination.