Chelating Agents

Chitosan is a natural linear biopolymer derived from the chitin found in the exoskeleton of shellfish. It is used in waste water treatment and metal chelation. Carboxymethylchitosan is a derivative of chitosan with a carboxymethyl group attached to the functional groups. The carboxymethyl moiety makes a superior chelating group for transition metal ions. Carboxymethylchitosan is an ampholine hydrocollold which precipitates with most heavy metal cations at neutral pH.