High-potential molecular properties of chitosan and reaction conditions for removing p-quinone from the aqueous phase

We investigated the use of chitosan for removing phenol oxide in the aqueous phase as a water-treatment process. We used p-quinone for the phenol oxide model material and investigated the capabilities of chitosan based on molecular weight (MW) and deacetylation degree (DD). We also examined reaction conditions (temperature and pH). The chitosan specifically removed p-quinone, rather than other phenols. The overall reaction rate constant was sufficiently high in the experimental range of 3.89 × 10⁵ to 1.24 × 10⁶ MW g mol^-1 and from 83.1 to 88.6 DD%. Chitosan was suitable for separating p-quinone in the aqueous phase at basic pH levels. Activation energy was found to be 45 kJ mol^-1.