Efficient removal of p-nitrophenol from water by imidazolium ionic liquids functionalized cellulose microsphere

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 273; no. Pt 1; p. 133117
• Main Authors: Peng, Lifang, Li, Wenkang, Du, Jifu, Zhang, Manman, Zhao, Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Adsorption; Cellulose microspheres; Ionic liquid; P-nitrophenol; Radiation grafting; Radiation grafting; P-nitrophenol; Adsorption; Cellulose microspheres; Ionic liquid
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133117

Removing p-nitrophenol (PNP) from water resources is crucial due to its significant threat to the environment and human health. Herein, imidazolium ionic liquids with short/long alkyl chain ([C2VIm]Br and [C8VIm]Br) modified cellulose microspheres (MCC-[C2VIm]Br and MCC-[C8VIm]Br) were synthesized by radiation method. To examine the impact of adsorbent hydrophilicity on adsorption performance, batch and column experiments were conducted for PNP adsorption. The MCC-[C2VIm]Br and MCC-[C8VIm]Br, with an equivalent molar import amount of ionic liquids, exhibited maximum adsorption capacities of 190.84 mg/g and 191.20 mg/g for PNP, respectively, and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 30 min. Both adsorbents displayed exceptional reusability. Integrating the findings from XPS and FTIR analyses, and AgNO3 identification, the suggested adsorption mechanism posited that the adsorbents engaged with PNP through ion exchange, hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking. Remarkably, the hydrophobic MCC-[C8VIm]Br exhibited superior selectivity for PNP than the hydrophilic MCC-[C2VIm]Br, while had little effect on adsorption capacity and rate. MCC-[C8VIm]Br-2 with high grafting yield increased the adsorption capacity to 327.87 mg/g. Moreover, MCC-[C8VIm]Br-2 demonstrated efficient PNP removal from various real water samples, and column experiments illustrated its selective capture of PNP from groundwater. The promising adsorption performance indicates that MCC-[C8VIm]Br-2 holds potential for PNP removal from wastewater. •A novel adsorbent with high ionic liquid content was synthesized by radiation method.•The effect of adsorbents' hydrophilicity on PNP adsorption property was compared.•MCC-[C8VIm]Br-2 removes PNP from environmental water samples efficiently.•MCC-[C8VIm]Br-2 exhibits excellent PNP removal ability in column experiment.•The PNP adsorption proceed by ion exchange, hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking.