Novel NS Modified Cellulose: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization and Adsorption Studies of Cu2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ From Environmental Water Samples

Abstract In this work, an attempt was made to modify natural cellulose powder via three steps process; oxidation by potassium periodate followed by condensation with aminoguanidine and eventually reaction with phenyl isothiocyanate. The modified cellulose (PhGu-MC) was characterized by several techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and elemental analysis (EA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The modified cellulose (PhGu-MC) was used as an adsorbent for Cu2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solution and environmental water samples. Effects of various factors on the adsorption efficiency were investigated including pH, initial metal concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, temperature and interfering ions on adsorption was investigated to estimate the optimum adsorption conditions. At optimum adsorption conditions, the adsorption capacities of Cu2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ were found to be 50, 94 and 55 mg.g−1, respectively. The adsorption process was, well described by the Langmuir model, and it was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The synthesized (PhGu-MC) has revealed significant potential towards heavy metal removal from environmental water samples.