Amino-carboxyl cellulose for adsorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+

An amino-carboxyl cellulose was synthesized using the grafting of glycine on the aldehyde cellulose through a Schiff base reaction for the adsorption of heavy metals with Cd2+ and Pb2+ as the representative. Higher affinity of the amino-carboxyl cellulose was found at pH 4.5-5.0 for Cd2+ and 4.0-5.5 for Pb2+. The equilibrium was achieved within 30 min. The adsorption capacities of amino-carboxyl cellulose (Cd2+: 85.7 mg g-1, Pb2+: 115.1 mg g-1, Cu2+: 68.2 mg g-1, Co2+: 60.1 mg g-1, Ni2+ 48.5 mg g-1 and Zn2+: 52.8 mg g-1) at 30 °C were observed. A mild increase in the adsorption capacities of Cd2+ and Pb2+ from 15 to 45 °C was observed. Adsorption data correlated well with the Langmuir and pseudo-second order equations, illustrating chemisorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ by the amino-carboxyl cellulose. The adsorption of the amino-carboxyl cellulose for Cd2+ and Pb2+ was a spontaneous and endothermic. The amino-carboxyl cellulose owned a high reusability after 4 cycles.