Synthesis, characterization, and humidity-responsiveness of guar gum xanthate and its nanocomposite with copper sulfide covellite

Trung-Anh Le, Morad Zouheir, Kostiantyn Nikiforow, Muhammad Khatib, Orr Zohar, Hossam Haick, Tan-Phat Huynh*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)
12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A novel conjugation of guar gum with xanthate groups via facile aqueous xanthation reaction has been reported. Density of grafted xanthate on guar gum product (GG-X) is as high as 4.4%, thus GG-X is conceivably characterized and confirmed by various spectrometric, electrochemical, thermogravimetric, and microscopic methods. Complexation of GG-X with numerous borderline and soft metal ions (e.g. Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Pt2+ and Cd2+) yields hydrophilic gel-like materials and shows good agreement with hard and soft acid and base (HSAB) theory. This indicates tremendous potential of GG-X in metal ion extraction, removal and hydrogel cross-linking. GG-X is also employed to formulate an aqueous colloidal dispersion of copper sulfide covellite (GG-X/CuS) nanocomposites. GG-X therefore behaves as a surfactant, allowing formation of electronically conductive nanocomposites. XRD indicates apparent beneficial effects of GG-X in the synthesis of CuS with a crystallite size of 15.6 nm. This novel nanocomposite is a promising material for humidity sensing, showing reversible linear responses to relative humidity changes within 10 to 80% range. The interaction between GG-X and water might cause changes in electrical permittivity of GG-X/CuS nanocomposite and/or electrical hopping conductivity between CuS nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-114
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Volume206
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Covellite nanocomposite
  • Gel-like materials
  • Guar gum xanthate
  • Humidity sensing
  • Metal ion complexation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Synthesis, characterization, and humidity-responsiveness of guar gum xanthate and its nanocomposite with copper sulfide covellite'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this