Tetraethylenepentamine-modified cellulose-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) applicable for Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solution

Abstract

Tetraethylenepentamine-modified cellulose-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) (Cell-g-PMA-TEPA), a polyamino-functionalized adsorbent for Pb(II), has been prepared via graft polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) from surface of microcrystalline cellulose and subsequent amidation with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). Influence of initial <em>p</em>H and contact time on adsorption has also been investigated. The adsorption kinetic could be best represented by pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data fits well with Langmuir isotherm model, from which maximum adsorption capacity could be derived as 444.4 mg g^-1. Further consecutive experiments indicate less than 10% loss in equilibrium adsorption capacity after five adsorption-desorption cycles.