KITOSPHÈRE

At a time when manufacturers are faced with the challenge of treating their aqueous effluents, with a tightening of the constraints imposed by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the KitoBioSpheres (KBS) project offers an adapted solution. KBS allows the large-scale production of chitosan beads by a vibratory jet granulation process for the removal of heavy metals from water.

• Vibrated jet granulation technology (prilling)
• Extrusion of solubilized chitosan solutions through a calibrated nozzle
• Coagulation in a chemical bath
• Production of millimetre-sized and single-dispersed spheres (Ø = 0.5 - 2 mm)

• Recovery of logs composed of more than 99% chitosan
• Possibility to put the balls in the form of fluidized beds or columns
• High adsorption capacity with respect to metals
• Possible variation in selectivity
• Regeneration and reuse of beads

The vibratory jet granulation production technology is mastered as part of this work and ready for wider use. Laboratory adsorption tests have shown the high adsorption capacity of the beads produced against several transition metals in solution and more specifically copper II and lead II.

• Metallurgy industries, agro-chemical industries, tanneries, etc...
• Water purification industries
• Other potential areas of use (biomaterials, chromatographic column, etc.)