Synthesis of magnetic carboxymethyl cellulose/graphene oxide nanocomposites for adsorption of copper from aqueous solution

In this study, a green and high-efficiency adsorbent was synthesized. First, magnetic cellulose (Fe3O4/CMC) was prepared by coprecipitation method and then it was compounded with functional graphene oxide (GO) to prepare magnetic cellulose-supported GO composite (Fe3O4/CMC/GO). As prepared composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, thermogravimetric, scanning electron microscope, Brunner-Emmett-Teller, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The adsorption properties were studied, and the effects of time, temperature, pH, and initial concentration on the adsorption process were investigated. The adsorption mechanism was also discussed. The results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model were more consistent with the adsorption process of Cu2+ by adsorbents. The whole adsorption process was a spontaneous endothermic process, and the adsorption capacity reached the maximum (199.98 mg·g−1) when the pH was 6 to 7, the initial concentration was 200 mg·L−1, and the temperature was 318 K. The high adsorption rate (86.68%) can still be achieved after 5 cycles of adsorption-desorption with 1 mol·L−1 dilute hydrochloric acid as eluent.