Preparation of cotton fibers modified with aromatic heterocyclic compounds and study of Cr(VI) adsorption performance

In order to prepare low-cost, biodegradable and processable adsorbent materials for adsorption of heavy metal ion, two kinds of novel modified cottons (C-4-APD and C-2-APZ) were obtained by introducing 4-aminopyridin and 2-aminopyrazine into the surface of degreasing cotton, respectively, and used for the removal of Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution. The two modified cottons were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which confirmed the amino groups, pyridine groups and pyrazine groups grafted onto the surface of modified cottons. The maximum adsorption capacities of C-4-APD and C-2-APZ were 89.66 mg/g and 54.92 mg/g, respectively, at the optimum pH of 2 and an initial concentration of 300 mg/g. Kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic studies were carried out to investigate the adsorption behavior of the modified cottons on Cr(VI) ions. The results showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) ions by modified cottons followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, the equilibrium data were in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the thermodynamic analysis indicates that the adsorption proceeds spontaneously. The recovery and reuse of modified cotton were achieved by washing with 2 wt% thiourea-hydrochloric acid solution (0.5 mol/L concentration of HCl), and the adsorption capacities of C-4-APD and C-2-APZ were maintained above 90% and 85%, respectively, after six cycles.