The Cooperative Effect in Dendronized Chitosan Microbeads

Abstract

The present study evaluates the cooperative effects of dendronized chitosan microbeads with tris- and hexa-functionalized dendrons for capturing copper and for further use as catalysts. The dendronized microbeads were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, swelling capacity analysis, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. A correlation between the number and type of functional groups at the dendritic surface of the dendronized microbeads and the retention of copper highlights structural features of the cooperative effect. It is demonstrated that covalently bound dendrons can modulate the properties of chitosan, which has shown potential as a catalyst for the development of a novel materials.