Removal of lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions using a modified cellulose adsorbent

Abstract

A series of adsorption studies were carried out on a glycidyl methacrylate-modified cellulose material functionalised with imidazole (cellulose-g-GMA-imidazole) to assess its capacity towards the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. The study sought to establish the effect of a number of parameters on the removal of Pb(II) ions from solution by the cellulose-g-GMA-imidazole. The effect of initial metal concentration, contact time and solution temperature on the removal of Pb(II) ions from solution by the cellulose-g-GMA-imidazole was assessed. Cellulose-g-GMA-imidazole sorbent showed an uptake of ca. 72 mg/g of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution at 23°C. The adsorption process is best described by the Langmuir adsorption model and the thermodynamics of the process suggest that the binding process is exothermic. The kinetics of the adsorption process indicated that the uptake of Pb(II) ions occurred within 40 min and that pseudo-second-order kinetics best describe the overall adsorption process.