A novel core–shell structured biosorbent derived from chemi-mechanical pulp for heavy metal ion removal

• Published in: Cellulose (London) Vol. 26; no. 16; pp. 8789 - 8799
• Main Authors: Wang, Jian, Hu, Na, Liu, Min, Sun, Jianpeng, Xu, Yaowei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adsorption; Bioorganic Chemistry; Cellulose; Cellulose fibers; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Core-shell structure; Formwork; Glass; Heavy metals; Ions; Metal ions; Natural Materials; Organic Chemistry; Original Research; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Regeneration; Selective adsorption; Separation; Sustainable Development; Wastewater treatment; Metal ion; Bio-adsorbent; Chemi-mechanical pulp; Recyclability
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-019-02693-6

Carboxymethylated cellulose fiber (CMF), a cellulose-based biosorbent, was prepared from chemi-mechanical pulp. The CMF biosorbent showed a high stability/recovery and an excellent adsorption capacity during the metal ion removal due to its unique core–shell structure: (1) the CMF maintained a good fiber formwork even at a high carboxyl content level (175.40 mmol/100 g) due to the protection of carboxymethyl-free lignin shell on the fiber surface, thus facilitating the follow up separation/recovery of CMF; (2) the high carboxyl content in the core of CMF cellulose enabled its strong adsorption capacity towards metal ions. The results showed that the adsorption behavior fitted well to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and the CMF had high selective adsorption towards Pb(II). The CMF also exhibited an excellent recycling performance. Therefore, the as-prepared CMF with high adsorption capacity, good solid–liquid separation and high regeneration performance indicates that the novel core–shell CMF biosorbent can provide a method to remove metal ion in practical wastewater treatment.