Radiation Modified CS/PVA Film with PVP Coating as Cu Adsorbent Material

Chitosan/Polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA) films were coated with layer of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to improve its mechanical strength. In this study, chitosan/PVA mixture was first cast into film. The films were later dipped into different concentrations of PVP solutions at 1%, 3%, and 5%. They were then exposed to gamma (γ) radiation at 5,10,20 and 30 kGy. The tensile strength of chitosan/PVA films coated with 1% PVP was found to increase up to 31%. Elongation at break was improved by 1% PVP coating. The CS/PVA Removal Efficiency (RE) with or without PVP coatings were not affected by γ irradiation. Result shows that the best settings to enhance the tensile strength of CS/PVA films for Cu adsorption application was 1% PVP coating at 5 kGy γ radiation.