Batch and column adsorption of cations, oxyanions and dyes on a magnetite modified cellulose-based membrane

Abstract

An optimized method is presented to make magnetite (MG) modified cellulose membrane (Cell-MG) from 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid dianhydride functionalized waste cell fibers; (Cell-NH2 and Cell-DTPA), and amino-modified diatomite. Functionalized Cell-NH2, Cell-DTPA fibers, and diatomite were structurally and morphologically characterized using FT-IR, Raman, and FE-SEM analysis. Amino and carboxyl group content was determined via standard volumetric methods. Response surface method was applied to rationalize the number of experiments related to Cell-MG synthesis and heavy metal ions column adsorption experiments. The effects of pH, contact time, temperature, and initial concentration of pollutants on adsorption and kinetics were studied in a batch, while initial concentration and flow rate were studied in a flow system. The calculated capacities of 88.2, 100.7, 95.8 and 78.2 mg g−1 for Ni2+, Pb2+, Cr(VI) and As(V) ions, respectively, were obtained from Langmuir model fitting. Intra-particle diffusion as a rate-limiting step was evaluated from pseudo-second-order and Weber–Morris model fitting. Thermodynamic parameters indicated spontaneous and low endothermic processes. The results from reusability study, wastewater purification and fixed-bed column study proved the high applicability of Cell-MG. Additionally, high removal capacity of four dyes together with density functional theory and molecular interaction fields, help in the establishment of relation between the adsorption performances and contribution of non-specific and specific interactions at adsorbate/adsorbent interface.