Preparation of gallic acid-chitosan complex (eco-brown) and its application for adsorption of mutagens and carcinogens

Abstract

Gallic acid was reported to suppress the mutagenicity and to inhibit the metabolic activation. Chitosan is a unique polysaccharide derived from chitin and is utlized as adsorbents of organic trace pollutants in environmental water sample. In this study, we have found that chitosan was suitable as a solid support to carry gallic acid. And it was examined that gallic acid could form an insoluble material when mixed with chitosan, and the solid chitosan-gallic acid complex (eco-brown) thus prepared could efficiently trap polycyclic mutagenic compounds. The adsorption of the test compounds was observed using UV/Visible spectrometry. The order of extent of removal by ecobrown was B[a]P (96. 1%)>QC (83. 0%)>2-AA (80. 3%) >2-AF (30. 3%)>PhIP (29. 6%). From these results, eco-brown may be expected as a useful adsorber for several polycyclic mutagens and carcinogens. ？ 2009 The Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science and Springer.