Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Nanoparticles Incorporated Chitosan-Spider Web Biopolymer Blend

Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from deacetylation of the natural chitin polymer, one of the most abundant and renewable material on Earth. Due to its unique macromolecular structure, distinctive physical and chemical properties, biological activities, and versatility, chitosan, a natural biopolymer, has attracted considerable attention in fundamental science, applied research and industrial biotechnology. The synthesis of copper nanoparticle incorporated chitosan-spider web (Ccob-CuNPs) blend as a biopolymer blend was carried out in this study. The chitosan and spider web composite were synthesized by blending the two biopolymer solutions in various ratios 5:1–5:5 chitosan/spider web blend (with varying the concentration of the spider web solution) to note which concentration will suitably enhance molecular structure of the chitosan biopolymer which was monitored using the FTIR spectrophotometer. Copper nanoparticles was also synthesized by mixing a CuSO4 solution with a solution of ascorbic acid and centrifuged using Fischer centrifuge (model 208) with a rmp of 3400 for 15 minutes to further separate the nanoparticles. In the order to obtain the desired Ccob-CuNPs blend, the synthesized biocomposite (chitosan-spider web) was reacted with the synthesized copper nanoparticles by simple stirring with the aid of a magnetic stirrer. This mixture was further subjected to various characterizations such as UV spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and XRD to identify their specific properties. The UV results of the formulated blend (Ccob-CuNPs) at the different blending ratios showed a maximum absorption band at the wavelengths ranging from 200–300 nm. The interaction between the biocomposite and the synthesized nanoparticles was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which showed the formation of new vibration band at 2467.5 cm–1 corresponding to the C-M bond, implying the capping of the nanoparticles by the biocomposite. The average size of the Ccob-CuNPs was estimated to be 57.8 nm using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. These findings completely confirmed the synthesis of CuNPs through a biocomposite medium.