Synthesis of new chitosan Schiff base and its Fe2O3 nanocomposite: Evaluation of methyl orange removal and antibacterial activity

New chitosan Schiff base (3EtO-4OH/Chit) and its 3EtO-4OH/Chit/Fe2O3 nanocomposite were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM. The result confirmed the preparation of 3EtO-4OH/Chit and its 3EtO-4OH/Chit/Fe2O3 nanocomposite. The efficiency of the prepared catalysts was studied for the methyl orange (MO) removal from aqueous solution. The effect of adsorbent dose and contact time on the removal of dye has been studied. Their antibacterial activities were considered against two Gram positive (S. aureus and B. cereus) and two Gram negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) bacteria and the results showed that the activity of the 3EtO-4OH/Chit/Fe2O3 is excellent and is more than chitosan and 3EtO-4OH/Chit. Thermogravimetry studies shows that the weight loss stages and the residual value at 600 °C are different for the two compounds. DSC curve of the title compounds 3EtO-4OH/Chit and 3EtO-4OH/Chit/Fe2O3 is different from each other. The reason for this difference could be due to the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles in 3EtO-4OH/Chit/Fe2O3.