Promising Sorbent Research Articles

Efficient Selective CO2 Composite Sorbent from Amino Acid Ionic Liquids and Silica Gel: 2H NMR Spectroscopy Provides Insight on the CO2-Binding Mechanism and in-Pore Microscopic Viscosity.

A promising CO2 sorbent based on the [Emim][Gly] (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate)/silica gel composite has been studied. CO2 sorption experiments have shown that the optimum loading of [Emim][Gly] ionic liquid in silica gel is 40 wt.%. The 2-step process CO2 binding mechanism in [Emim][Gly] has been proposed based on the results of sorption experiments, 2H NMR spectroscopy and ab-initio calculations. The impact of CO2 on the microscopic viscosity and the dynamical melting of ionic liquid has been thoroughly investigated. 2H NMR spectroscopy has revealed that CO2 strongly binds cation and anion in [Emim][Gly], forcing them to move in a correlated fashion.

Iron Impurity Impairs the CO2 Capture Performance of MgO: Insights from Microscopy and Machine Learning Molecular Dynamics.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is a promising sorbent for direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide. Iron (Fe) is a common impurity in naturally occurring MgO and minerals used to produce MgO, yet a molecular-scale understanding of Fe-doping effects on carbonation is lacking. Here, we observed reduced carbonation performance in Fe-doped MgO experimentally. The energetics of adsorbing a (bi)carbonate ion on pristine and Fe-doped MgO(001) surfaces were further investigated using ab initio and machine learning potential molecular dynamics coupled with metadynamics simulations. Both pristine and Fe-doped surfaces exhibited a basic (OH-) hydration layer, where the (bi)carbonate ion adsorption is thermodynamically favorable. However, the dissolution of surface Fe had smaller energy barriers and was more favorable than Mg. Leached Fe likely neutralized the near-surface basicity, yielding reduced reactivity on Fe-doped MgO. Our observations offer critical insights for material selection and emphasize the importance of evaluating the geologic origin of earth materials used for DAC.

In-depth mechanistic insights into Au nanoparticles based polyurethane foams as a selective and efficient dispersive solid phase microextractor for textile dyes from water: performance and reusability study

ABSTRACT Herein, a simple, superhydrophobic, superoleeophilic and low cost microextractor Au nanparticles (Au NPs) based polyurethane (PUFs) solid platform (Au NPs/PUFs) has been developed as a promising sorbent for removal and recovery of Congo red (CR) textile dye from water bodies. The sorbent was characterised using UV-visible and SEM techniques. The procedure relied complete dye retention from the aqueous solution at pH 5.0–5.5 onto an Au NP/PUF extractor. Analytical assessments revealed that the Au NPs/PUFs combination significantly improves mass transfer of dye and enhances creation of active sites for CR retention. CR sorption by the sorbent fitted well with intra-particle diffusion and pseudo first-order kinetic models (R2 = 0.990). The enthalpy change, ΔH (37.8 kJ mol−1) indicates that dye extraction is endothermic whereas the entropy change, ΔS0 (116.6 J mol−1K−1), reveals a significant change in the entropy during dye uptake. The free energy change ΔG (3.12 kJ mol−1 at 298 K) of CR sorption indicated that the dye retention was not spontaneous at all temperatures. A twofold sorption mechanism involving absorption accompanying ‘solvent extraction’ and/or ‘weak ion exchange’, combined with surface adsorption of dye is proposed. Sorbent packed mini column demonstrated effective percent removal and recovery (101.8%) of CR from water samples using acetone or NaOH as an eluting agent. The study expands the utility of Au NPs/PUFs for reusability and spectrophotometric sensing of trace levels of CR in water. The key attention also includes integrating PUFs utility by improving the selectivity and sensing properties towards textile dyes.

Design of magnetically functionalized hydrogen-bonded organic framework for extraction and enrichment of bisphenols from environmental and human samples

The magnetic functionalized hydrogen bond organic framework named Fe3O4@PFC-11/1 was prepared for the first time and used as sorbent of magnetic solid-phase extraction to enrich bisphenols (BPs) prior to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The limits of detection were achieved 0.03–0.07 ng/mL, and the enrichment factors were calculated in the range of 234–296. The adsorption of Fe3O4@PFC-11/1 to BPs can be finished within 10 s. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe3O4@PFC-11/1 to bisphenol F, bisphenol A, bisphenol B and bisphenol AF were calculated as 249.95, 413.74, 474.38 and 676.06 mg/g, respectively. The main adsorption mechanisms of BPs on Fe3O4@PFC-11/1 are attributed to pore filling, van der Waals force, hydrogen bond and π-π interaction. Finally, BPs were successfully detected in environmental and human samples with satisfactory recoveries (78.2–117.9 %). This work presented combination of Fe3O4 with PFC-1 to obtain a promising magnetic sorbent for extraction and enrichment of trace compounds in complex matrices.

Trace benzene capture by decoration of structural defects in metal-organic framework materials.

Capture of trace benzene is an important and challenging task. Metal-organic framework materials are promising sorbents for a variety of gases, but their limited capacity towards benzene at low concentration remains unresolved. Here we report the adsorption of trace benzene by decorating a structural defect in MIL-125-defect with single-atom metal centres to afford MIL-125-X (X = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; MIL-125, Ti8O8(OH)4(BDC)6 where H2BDC is 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid). At 298 K, MIL-125-Zn exhibits a benzene uptake of 7.63 mmol g-1 at 1.2 mbar and 5.33 mmol g-1 at 0.12 mbar, and breakthrough experiments confirm the removal of trace benzene (from 5 to <0.5 ppm) from air (up to 111,000 min g-1 of metal-organic framework), even after exposure to moisture. The binding of benzene to the defect and open Zn(II) sites at low pressure has been visualized by diffraction, scattering and spectroscopy. This work highlights the importance of fine-tuning pore chemistry for designing adsorbents for the removal of air pollutants.

Tripolyphosphate-functionalized cellulose: A green solution for cadmium contamination

This study introduces a highly efficient tripolyphosphate -tethered cellulose sorbent for cadmium (Cd2⁺) removal from aqueous solutions. Characterization through FTIR and SEM revealed the material's structural properties. The sorbent achieved 99% Cd2⁺ removal even at a minimal dosage of 0.05 g. Optimal sorption occurred within the pH range of 4–6, influenced by the sorbent's weak acidic functional groups. Rapid kinetics, reaching equilibrium within a minute, and a high sorption capacity (up to 18.03 mg/g at 50 °C) were observed. Langmuir isotherm modeling confirmed monolayer sorption, and thermodynamic studies indicated a spontaneous, endothermic process with increased randomness at the solid-liquid interface. Selectivity studies demonstrated strong Cd2⁺ removal performance in the presence of competing ions, with minimal interference from monovalent ions but notable effects from divalent ions. The sorbent exhibited consistent reusability over multiple cycles. XPS analysis conclusively established an ion exchange mechanism between Cd2⁺ and negatively charged P3O105− groups as the primary removal pathway. This research highlights the potential of TPP-tethered cellulose as a promising sorbent for effective Cd2⁺ remediation.

Removal of noxious Eriochrome black T dye from aqueous solution using magnetically metal oxide modified activated carbon derived from Carica papaya seed

ABSTRACT In the present study, we have synthesised magnetically metal oxide-modified activated carbon derived from Carica papaya seed (Fe3O4/AC). The Fe3O4/AC materials were characterised using XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, EDX, FT-IR and VSM. The Fe3O4/AC materials serve as a promising sorbent for eliminating anionic azo dye, i.e. EBT from aquatic media. Batch adsorption experiments reveal the optimal contact time of 60 min, initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 100 mg, stirring speed of 300 rpm and pH3. The adsorption process was well fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic due to the high R 2 value. The maximum adsorption capacity (q max) for EBT dye was found to be 50 mg/g. Electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction play an important role in between the adsorbent and adsorbate. The stability of Fe3O4/AC materials was investigated by NaOH to desorb EBT dye molecules located on the surface of Fe3O4/AC. This Fe3O4/AC material is an efficient and economical method for the removal of dye from wastewater.

3D-printing bauxite residue/fly ash-containing geopolymers as promising metal sorbents for water treatment

Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of employing significant amounts (up to 80 wt%) of unexplored industrial wastes (red mud and biomass fly ash) in the production of highly porous 3D-printed geopolymer lattices envisioned for wastewater treatment applications. This without compromising the mechanical performance of the geopolymers relative to those obtained using commercial precursors. The impact of the fly ash incorporation content in the fresh-state (calorimetric and reological characterization) and hardened-state (porosity and mechanical strength) properties of the produced structures was evaluated. Moreover, the influence of key printing parameters, including nozzle diameter and geometry alignment, on the resulting properties of the lattices was also evaluated. The most promising compositions were then evaluated as lead sorbents under continuous flow. The waste-based 3D-printed lattices showed remarkable adsorption ability reaching >95 % removal efficiency after 2 h. This sustainable strategy is in line with the United Nations sustainable development goals and the transition to a circular economy, reducing the consumption of natural resources and simultaneously contributing to reducing water pollution.

Sorption behavior of strontium and europium ions from aqueous solutions using fabricated inorganic sorbent based on talc

Sorption of Sr(II) and Eu(III) from aqueous solutions was studied using tin molybdate talc sorbent synthesized by the precipitation technique. The synthesized sorbent was characterized using different analytical tools, such as; FT-IR, SEM, XRD, XRF, TGA, and DTA. The sorption studies applied to Sr(II) and Eu(III) include the effects of shaking time, pH, concentrations, and saturation capacity. The sorption of Sr(II) and Eu(III) depends on pH, reaction kinetics obey the pseudo-2nd-order model, and the Langmuir model is better suited for the sorption isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters reflect an endothermic and spontaneous sorption process. Desorption studies showed that 0.1 M HCl was the best desorbing agent for the complete recovery of Sr(II) (96.8%) and Eu(III) (92.9%). Finally, the obtained data illustrates that the synthesized sorbent can be applied and used as an efficient sorbent for the sorption of Sr(II) and Eu(III) from aqueous solutions and can be used as a promising sorbent to remove Sr(II) and Eu(III).

Direct modification of pelletized 13X zeolite by atomic layer deposition toward effective CO2 capture from flue gas

As a promising sorbent material for post combustion CO2 capture, 13X zeolite has been broadly investigated in pressure/vacuum swing adsorption (P/VSA). However, recent P/VSA process simulation studies have posited that some metal organic frame works (MOFs) with reduced CO2 and N2 adsorption affinities and adsorption enthalpies can enable process level improvements, suggesting that the CO2/N2 adsorption strength in 13X may be stronger than what is optimal for post combustion CO2 capture (PCC) via P/VSA. Via preferential H2O adsorption on strong adsorption sites in 13X zeolite, we found that temporarily passivating these sites led to enhancements in CO2 working capacity (5–15 kPa CO2, 30 °C) and CO2/N2 separation factor (5–15 kPa CO2, 1–85 kPa N2, 30 °C) by 12 % and 94 %, respectively. To permanently weaken the adsorption strength in 13X, we employed H2O/TiCl4 atomic layer deposition (ALD) to “passivate” the strong adsorption sites and thus fabricate a novel adsorbent, Ti-13X, and investigated the effect of selective inhibition of high adsorption strength sites on the thermodynamic CO2/N2 adsorption properties. The modification technique resulted in suppressed CO2 and N2 adsorption affinity, manifesting in a 10 % and 133 % increase in the CO2 working capacity (5–15 kPa, 30 °C) and CO2/N2 separation factor (5–15 kPa CO2, 1–85 kPa N2, 30 °C), respectively. CO2 microcalorimetry experiments showed a suppressed and homogenized CO2 heat of adsorption in Ti-13X versus pristine 13X, indicating that high enthalpy CO2 adsorption was inhibited while the CO2 physisorption behavior was preserved. When evaluated using the General Evaluation Metric (GEM), Ti-13X scored similarly to promising MOFs and significantly outscored pristine 13X, suggesting its merit for future investigation.

Activated Carbons for Removing Ammonia from Piggery Vent Air: A Promising Tool for Mitigating the Environmental Impact of Large-Scale Pig Breeding

Unsustainable pig breeding is a great threat to the environment. Ammonia is one of the main pollutants emitted in piggery vent air. This work is a comparative survey that presents the findings on the effectiveness of ammonia adsorption from air using various activated carbons (ACs). Detailed consideration is given to the effects of (i) type of raw material (wood char, wood pellet, and commercial lignite-based char), (ii) preparation method (CO2, steam, and KOH activation), and (iii) activation conditions (temperature and KOH/char ratio), on the porous structure of ACs and their ammonia sorption capacity and reversibility. Response surface methodology and genetic algorithm were used to find optimum KOH activation conditions. Economic analyses of AC production were performed using process modeling in Aspen software. It was found that ACs obtained from wood char in KOH activation show a maximum ammonia capacity of 397 g/kg, which is at least 2.5-fold higher than that reached on ACs from physical activation. A lower activation temperature (&lt;750 °C) and a higher KOH/char ratio (&gt;3) were preferred for effective adsorption, regardless of the type of feedstock. High sorption reversibility was achieved (87–96%). This makes the obtained sorbents promising sorbents for ammonia removal from piggery vent air with potential subsequent application as nitrogen-enriched biochar for crop fertilization. Thus, it facilitates sustainable pig breeding.

Immobilization of gaseous As2O3 on γ-Fe2O3 (001) surface by forming monodentate and bidentate complexes: Insight from DFT study

Coal combustion is one primary anthropogenic emission source of atmospheric arsenic. Ferromagnetic γ-Fe2O3 has been regarded as an effective and promising immobilization sorbent for As2O3(g) in flue gas with good magnetic properties. The reported mechanism explorations about gaseous arsenic capture in flue gas by density functional theory (DFT) are mainly based on forming one chemical bond between arsenic and sorbent. Recent studies demonstrated that multidentate arsenic complexes could be formed with iron oxides in solution. However, the possible formation pathway of multidentate complexes between gaseous As2O3 and γ-Fe2O3 was not been reported yet. This is the first study to investigate the thermodynamics and quantum mechanics of bidentate complexes between As2O3(g) and γ-Fe2O3 (001) by DFT. Three kinds of arsenic bidentate complexes were discovered at γ-Fe2O3 (001) surface, including “2 O to 2 Feoct”, “2 O to Fetet & Feoct,” and “As & O to 2 Feoct,” which were named as configuration A, B and C, respectively. Configuration B, “2 O to Fetet & Feoct”, showed the lowest adsorption energy (Eads) among the three kinds of bidentate complexes. The Mulliken population analysis further confirmed the electron transfer between the atoms of newly formed chemical bonds in bidentate configurations. In addition, the projected density of states (PDOS) analysis exhibiting resonance peaks also showed the formation of hybrid orbitals. The criteria for the determination of bidentate complexes were also proposed. The results evidence a convincing conclusion that monodentate and bidentate complexes with stable chemical bonds can be formed when As2O3(g) is immobilized by γ-Fe2O3 (001).

Sorbents utilizing h-BN micro- and nanoparticles for efficient antibiotic removal in wastewater treatment

Currently, there is a high demand for novel sorbents for wastewater treatment. Nanostructured materials are often considered as more promising sorbents compared to their microsized counterparts, which, however, requires experimental verification. In this work, two types of h-BN materials (micro- and nanosized) are compared as candidates for antibiotic sorption. The initial h-BN was in the form of microsized pellets. Nanostructurued h-BN was obtained by high energy ball milling of the initial powder. The effect of ball milling on the microstructure, morphology, chemical composition and surface chemical state was investigated by SEM, TEM, STEM, EDX, XRD, XPS, FTIR and BET techniques. Adsorption properties were studied on samples in the form of pellets and powders. Activated carbon powder was used as a reference material. The antibiotic adsorption process was studied using tetracycline and linezolid. The influence of the h-BN structure on the adsorption characteristics was elucidated using DFT calculations.

Green synthesis of MIL53(Al)-modified paper-based analytical device for efficient extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides from environmental water samples

BackgroundThere is a need to develop low-cost, reliable and portable devices to enhance the efficiency of microextraction techniques in complex samples. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be promising sorbents due to their well-documented properties. However, their green preparation and combination with paper-based substrates have not been satisfactorily explored to fabricate sustainable sorptive phases. ResultsIn this work, the hybridization of a paper substrate (as a sustainable support) with MOFs (as a sorptive phase) was carried out by one-pot approach. Concretely, the selected MOF, MIL-53(Al), was in-situ growth onto the paper surface in aqueous solution without the need for high temperature or pressure, thereby aligning with the Green Analytical Chemistry principles. The optimized composite (MIL-53(Al)@cellulose paper) was characterized and evaluated as extraction sorbent for five neonicotinoids (NEOs) (thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid). Furthermore, its feasibility was demonstrated by isolating these pollutants from environmental water samples, followed their determination by HPLC coupled to diode array detection. The whole method showed satisfactory analytical performance with recoveries between 86 and 114 %, suitable precision (with RSD lower than 14 %), and limits of detection ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 μg L−1. Besides, the greenness of the method was assessed by application of different existing metrics. The developed extraction device was affordable (<0.08 €/device) and mechanical and chemically stable, being possible its reuse more than 11 cycles, thus demonstrating its suitability for rapid screening of pesticides in environmental samples. SignificanceThis report presents, for the first time, the green synthesis of MIL-53(Al)cellulose paper composite and its application as a sorptive phase for the extraction of NEOs from environmental water samples. We believe that the proposed strategy for fabricating these sustainable paper-based sorptive phases paves the way for further hybridizations with other MOFs or materials. Additionally, it opens up large possibilities for their application in extraction of pollutants or other hazardous compounds in aquatic environments.

CO2 capture utilizing Li4SiO4 from spent lithium-ion batteries and iron tailings offers eco-friendly benefits

Carbon capture and storage stand as a pivotal technology in the battle against global climate change. The development of economically viable CO2 capture materials, coupled with the recycling of solid wastes, poses a significant challenge in the pursuit of carbon neutrality. Herein, we propose a process to synthesize a promising high-temperature sorbent, Li4SiO4, using spent lithium-ion batteries and iron tailings. Li4SiO4 synthesized under optimal process conditions demonstrates exceptional CO2 capacity and cycle stability (0.25 g/g, 100 cycles), with a preparation cost merely amounting to 1/7 of traditional methods, rendering it industrially feasible. Moreover, elucidating the intricate relationship between impurity elements in the feedstock and the CO2 capture capacity of the adsorbent holds considerable significance in guiding material synthesis strategies. A systematic evaluation of solid waste purity and impurity elements on CO2 capture capacity, through a combination of experiments and theoretical calculations, reveals that lower purity solid waste containing favorable impurities (96.78 % Li2CO3 and 90.35 % SiO2) enhances the CO2 capture efficiency of the synthesized Li4SiO4. This innovative work establishes a direct link between trace impurities and macroscopic properties, providing a viable decarbonization pathway and fostering high-value secondary utilization of solid waste under short and economical processes.

Achieving Molecular Sieving of CO2 from CH4 by Controlled Dynamical Movement and Host-Guest Interactions in Ultramicroporous VOFFIVE-1-Ni by Pillar Substitution.

Engineering the building blocks in metal-organic materials is an effective strategy for tuning their dynamical properties and can affect their response to external guest molecules. Tailoring the interaction and diffusion of molecules into these structures is highly important, particularly for applications related to gas separation. Herein, we report a vanadium-based hybrid ultramicroporous material, VOFFIVE-1-Ni, with temperature-dependent dynamical properties and a strong affinity to effectively capture and separate carbon dioxide (CO2) from methane (CH4). VOFFIVE-1-Ni exhibits a CO2 uptake of 12.08 wt % (2.75 mmol g-1), a negligible CH4 uptake at 293 K (0.5 bar), and an excellent CO2-over-CH4 uptake ratio of 2280, far exceeding that of similar materials. The material also exhibits a favorable CO2 enthalpy of adsorption below -50 kJ mol-1, as well as fast CO2 adsorption rates (90% uptake reached within 20 s) that render the hydrolytically stable VOFFIVE-1-Ni a promising sorbent for applications such as biogas upgrading.

Sustainable metal-organic framework based paper sheet as wallpaper for passive indoor moisture control

Passive indoor moisture control is a meaningful way to reduce HVAC operation and improve building energy efficiency. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered one of the most promising sorbent materials for passive indoor moisture control. However, the powder form of MOF is challenging to use in the built environment. Typical shaping methods like pellets, beads, and coating can lead to problems like partial pore blocking, insufficient mechanical stability, amorphization, and low material utilization. Here, we report a new sustainable MOF paper sheet comprising 25% cellulosic fibers and 75% MOF MIL-100(Fe) powder. The porous polymer matrix provides good support and fixation for MOF particles, so it’s more applicable in the built environment. The crystalline and pore structure characteristics of the MOF in the membrane are well preserved. Hydro characteristic test results show that MIL-100(Fe) paper sheet has high water vapor uptake, S-shape isotherm, mild regeneration condition, and high MBV. Then, a numerical model was developed to calculate the relation between a material’s MBV and its thickness. MIL-100(Fe) paper sheet with the most efficient thickness was applied as wallpaper in a building energy simulation model. The simulation result shows that the MIL-100(Fe) paper sheet is promising for passive indoor moisture control. It can remove about 45%-55% of the latent cooling load in most European climate types.

Adsorption performance and mechanism of Arsenic(III) and Arsenic(V) by using copper-manganese binary oxide

ABSTRACT Arsenic contamination threatens the safety of drinking water in many areas of the world. As(V) is less toxic and easier to remove than As(III). Hence, it is essential to oxidise As(III) to As(V). Based on the previous studies, Cu-Mn binary oxide (CMBO) (with a molar ratio of Cu/Mn = 3:1) was prepared by a two-step method. The results showed that CMBO has a large specific surface area (67.74 m2/g) and pore size (16.87 nm). Moreover, CMBO has an inconspicuous crystal structure and abundant hydroxyl groups, which are favourable for arsenic adsorption. The adsorption kinetics results indicated that As(III) was oxidised to As(V) during the adsorption process, and the adsorption rate for As(V) removal was faster than that for As(III) removal. The saturated adsorption capacities of As(III) and As(V) were calculated to be 64.17 mg/g and 84.87 mg/g via the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The results of the pH effect studies indicated that acidic conditions promoted the removal of both As(III) and As(V) by CMBO due to the electrostatic attraction. The spectroscopic analysis results demonstrated that Mn oxides within CMBO played a vital role in As(III) oxidation. The removal of As(III) by CMBO was attributed to the synergistic effect of As(III) oxidation by Mn oxides and As sorption by Cu oxides. Overall, CMBO is a promising sorbent with great potential for removing arsenic.

Optimizing MOF properties for seasonal heat storage: a machine learning approach

In the quest to enhance thermochemical energy storage using promising sorbents, this work presents a study on the optimization of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) properties for gas sorption, with a focus on CO2 and H2O adsorption. Through the analysis of crystallographic descriptors, the study aims to streamline the selection of MOFs that could potentially exceed the performance of existing water sorbent pairs. A comprehensive comparison of sequential learning (SL) algorithms reveals a method for identifying the minimal set of descriptors that influence adsorption properties of MOFs. The protocol involves constructing and training machine learning (ML) models to determine the number of influential descriptors and utilizing SHAP analysis to evaluate their importance. Findings suggest that including only these critical descriptors in the exploration space reduces computational load. Notably, the COMBO and the FUELS algorithms consistently outshine random guessing, validating their efficacy in materials optimization. The challenge of accessing full adsorption properties across the entire coverage range is addressed by a computational screening procedure requiring minimal input data. This method suggests that some vanadium based MOFs, originally designed for different purposes, could surpass the current leading compounds for thermal energy storage, primarily due to their optimal Henry coefficient values for water adsorption.

PH-responsive and mechanical strong chitosan-based hydrogel reinforced with rice straw cellulose micro-fibrils for efficient removal of cu(II)

Straw and chitosan are underutilized raw materials, which could make a significant contribution to sustainable development. Herein, a novel chitosan-based hydrogel incorporating rice straw cellulose micro-fibrils (SCMF) was prepared to effectively remove Cu(II). FTIR and SEM showed that straw cellulose-g-poly (acrylic acid)/chitosan-g-poly (acrylic acid) interpenetrating polymer networks were prepared and the hydrogel SCCH had a 3D porous structure after cross-linking with AA. The swelling properties of SCCH were studied and compared in various pH solution. The results indicated that SCCH replayed pH responsibility, which had the largest and smallest swelling capacity at pH9.18 and pH4.00 respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model can be effectively used to evaluate swelling kinetics of hydrogels. The effects of contact time and initial concentration on Cu(II) ion removal were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption capacity (Qe) was 209.2 mg/g and the obtained results indicated that the adsorption kinetics conformed to the pseudo-second-order. Chemical adsorption combined with porous physical adsorption endowed SCCH excellent swelling and adsorption properties. Tensile, compression, bending and twisting test convinced that SCMF played a significant role on the improvement of mechanical strength. This novel 3D porous chitosan-based hydrogel was identified to be a promising sorbent with advantages of excellent sorption and mechanical properties.