Synthesis and characterization of cellulose based graft copolymers with binary vinyl monomers for efficient removal of cationic dyes and Pb(II) ions

Abstract

Cellulose grafted with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AASO3H) and binary comonomer acrylonitrile (AN) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA/DTA and swelling studies. Adsorption parameters like contact time, temperature, pH and concentration were optimized for maximum adsorption of organic dyes and Pb(II) ions. Dye adsorption behavior studied for cationic malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) dyes followed the order Cell-g-AASO3H > Cell-g-AASO3H-co-AN > cellulose. Order for adsorption of dyes were reported as MG > CV. Pseudo-second-order model is best-fitted with the experimental data and adsorption capacity from Langmuir adsorption isotherm for MG, and CV were 61.46 and 55.71 mg.g−1 respectively, for Cell-g-AASO3H. Percent uptake capacities followed the order Cell-g-AASO3H-co-AN > Cell-g-AASO3H > cellulose for Pb(II) ions. Maximum adsorption capacities for Pb(II) ions from Langmuir adsorption isotherm were 154.32 and 181.49 mg.g−1 for Cell-g-AASO3H and Cell-g-AASO3H-co-AN, respectively.