Adsorption behavior of crystal violet from aqueous solutions with chitosan–graphite oxide modified polyurethane as an adsorbent

Abstract

ABSTRACTA series of chitosan (Ch)–graphite oxide (GO)‐modified polyurethane foam (PUF) materials as adsorbents were synthesized by a foaming technique. The adsorbent was characterized through IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Batch adsorption experiments of the cationic dye crystal violet (CV) were carried out as a function of the Ch–GO content (1.0–8.0 wt %), solution pH (2–10), dye concentration (100–300 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (10–60 mg/mL), and temperature (20–45°C). At a lower pH value, the surface of Ch–GO/PUF acquired positive charge by absorbing H+ ions; this resulted in a decreasing adsorption of the cationic CV dye because of electrostatic repulsion. As the pH of the aqueous system increased, the numbers of negatively charged sites increased by absorbing OH− ions, and a significantly high electrostatic attraction existed between the negatively charged surface of Ch–GO/PUF and the cationic dye (CV) molecules. This led to maximum dye adsorption. The kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium of CV adsorption onto Ch–GO/PUF were investigated. The equilibrium data for CV adsorption fit the Langmuir equation, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 64.935 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics process followed the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics model. Thermodynamic parameters analysis revealed that the adsorption of CV from an aqueous solution by a Ch–GO modified PUF material was a spontaneous and endothermic process. We concluded that Ch–GO/PUF is a promising adsorbent for the removal of CV from aqueous solutions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41828.