Adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) from aqueous single metal solutions by succinylated mercerized cellulose modified with triethylenetetramine

This study describes the preparation of two new chelating materials derived from succinylated mercerized cellulose (cell 1). Cell 1 was activated through two different methods by using diisopropylcarbodiimide and acetic anhydride (to form an internal anhydride) and reacted with triethylenetetramine in order to obtain cell 2 and 4. New modified celluloses were characterized by mass percent gain, concentration of amine functions, elemental analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Cell 2 and 4 showed degrees of amination of 2.8 and 2.3 mmol/g and nitrogen content of 6.07% and 4.61%, respectively. The capacity of cell 2 and 4 to adsorb Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ ions from single aqueous solutions were examined. The effect of contact time, pH, and initial concentration of metal ions on the metal ions uptake was also investigated. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted by the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of cell 2 and 4 were found to be 56.8 and 69.4 mg/g for Cu²⁺; 68.0 and 87.0 mg/g for Cd²⁺; and 147.1 and 192.3 mg/g for Pb²⁺, respectively.