Title
Adsorption of Cr (VI) by cellulose adsorbent prepared using ionic liquid as green homogeneous reaction medium
Authors
YAN HAO ZHENPENG CUI HUI YANG GUIBAO GUO JINYAN LIU ZHIXIANG WANG ARIANE DENISET-BESSEAU and SAMY REMITA

Received March 22, 2017
Published Volume 52 Issue 5-6 May-June
Keywords microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), ionic liquids (ILs), homogeneous phase graft copolymer, metal ion adsorbent

Abstract
A cellulose-based adsorbent was originally prepared in ionic liquid and used for Cr (VI) ion removal. The preparation methodology involved chemical induced grafting of styrene onto microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), followed by chloroacetylation, amination and protonation processes in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) ionic liquid used as solvent. The shape and size of the adsorbents could be easily adjusted according to the requirements of wastewater treatment. FTIR and AFM-IR characterization methods demonstrated that grafting and copolymerization of styrene occurred on the surface of the MCC substrates. The grafting yield could be readily controlled by varying the experimental conditions, such as monomer concentration, reaction time and temperature. Besides, the adsorption of Cr (VI) ions onto the as-prepared cellulose-based adsorbent was investigated as a function of contact time and pH. The kinetic study revealed that adsorption could be achieved within 30 min. Also, the adsorption behavior of the prepared absorbent was described by the Langmuir model.