Synthesis of nanocomposite chitosan-tio2 and its application as photodegradation agent of methilen blue in aqueous medium

Synthesis of nanocomposite chitosan-TiO2 have been done. Nanocomposite made of chitosan was isolated from crab shell namely α-chitosan and squid pens as β-chitosan. Nanocomposite was synthesized by combining the function of chitosan as supporting material with TiO2 particle that have high photocatalytic activity. The nanocomposite characterized by FTIR and SEM/EDX analysis show the functional groups of chitosan and and also surface morphology of nanocomposite chitosan-TiO2. The FTIR spectra shows adsorption band of O-Ti-O at 677-695 cm-1, and characteristic adsorption band of chitosan at wavenumbers 1600 cm-1 for -NH2 and 3400 cm-1 for -OH. From SEM/EDX analysis can be seen that TiO2 has been distributed evenly on surface of chitosan. The nanocomposite was applied for photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium on UV light radiation. The optimum percent photodegradation at wavelength 660 nm by the nanocomposite α-chitosan-TiO2 and β-chitosan-TiO2 are 59,48% and 59,82%, respectively