A cellulose polymer functionalized with an amine chelating agent was designed and synthesized in a three-step process that involved oxidizing cellulose powder into dialdehyde cellulose, reacting cellulose dialdehyde with phenyl biguanide to create an imine linkage between the two reactants, and reducing the imine linkage to an amine. The cellulose amine polymer was cross-linked with glycerol digycidyl ether and evaluated as an adsorbent of toxic metal ions from wastewater. The adsorption efficiency of the cross-linked cellulose amine polymer toward Pb(II) and Cu(II) was evaluated as a function of the adsorbent dose, pH, time, temperature, and initial ion concentration. The cross-linked cellulose amine polymer showed an excellent efficiency toward over 15 metal ions present in a real sample of sewage. Thermodynamic analysis showed a spontaneous adsorption of metal ions on the polymer at room temperature. Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamic simulations showed that the Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions adsorbed onto the cellulose amine polymer surface in a considerable amount, which agreed with the experimental and thermodynamic data. The negative free energy value confirmed the spontaneity of the adsorption process. As such, cross-linked cellulose amine polymers could be a promising alternative to current commercial adsorbents.

Title

BioResources

Publisher

NC State University

Publisher Country

United States of America

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

16

Year

2021

Pages

7263-7282