Synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose-chitosan-montmorillonite nanosheets composite hydrogel for dye effluent remediation

MMTNS were introduced into carboxymethyl cellulose-chitosan system to synthesize porous hydrogel adsorbent with stable structure and high dye handling capacity. Al-OH on edge of MMTNS formed hydrogen-bond (-OH···+NH3-) with -NH2 on CS, CS then cooperated with CMC via amidation and chains interleaving, forming three-dimensional hydrogel. Morphology characterization revealed that hydrogel possessed microporous open-framework structure, facilitating free entrance of macromolecular MB dye to react with internal reaction sites in hydrogel. Factor tests indicated that high removal (97%) of MB was achieved via 0.2 g/L hydrogel within 360 min even after 5 adsorption-regeneration cycles. Adsorption process followed Pseudo-first-order, Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Sips isotherm model, owing to both monolayer physical and chemical adsorption behavior of MB molecules onto homogeneous surface of hydrogel. Adsorption mechanism was attributed to ion-exchange, groups combination of carboxyl and hydroxyl, and Si active sites reaction. Such hydrogel realized promotion of polysaccharide polymers in materials design and wastewater treatment.