Cellulose grafted with polyaniline for simultaneous adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes in wastewater effluent

The adsorbent for both cationic and anionic dye based on cellulose and polyaniline was prepared. Cellulose was purified from sugarcane bagasse through the removal of hemicellulose and lignin. Aniline was polymerized in emulsion state in the presence of cellulose and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The results from Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observation and determination of porosity confirmed that polyaniline was grafted on the surface of cellulose fiber to form cellulose-graft-polyaniline (Cel-g-PAni). Polyaniline acted as adsorption sites for both cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (methyl orange). The adsorption on the surface of Cel-g-PAni followed the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption sites on its surface was uniform. The extent of adsorbing capacity of Cel-g-PAni toward methylene blue and methyl orange was 1.57 and 0.75 mmol/g, respectively. These values confirmed that Cel-g-PAni was an efficient adsorbent for both cationic and anionic dyes. The adsorption of either cationic or anionic dye in a mixture solution did not restrain each other. Cel-g-PAni was expected to have potential application in practical.