Synthesis and characterization of multi-amino-functionalized cellulose for arsenic adsorption

A multi-amino adsorbent for arsenic adsorption was reported in this paper. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was first grafted onto the surface of cotton cellulose using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the initiator, and then the introduced epoxy groups reacted with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to obtain a multi-amino adsorbent. The adsorbent was characterized by FTIR, elemental analysis, 13C NMR and SEM. Then, the adsorption of arsenic for this adsorbent was investigated. The results showed that the GMA and TEPA were successfully grafted onto the surface of cellulose, and the modification improved the arsenic adsorption performances. Kinetic study suggested that the chemisorptions were the rate-limiting step. Among the three adsorption isotherm models used, Langmuir model fitted the experimental data best. The adsorption capacities of arsenic were less affected by coexisting ions. The adsorbent could be effectively regenerated for four cycles with 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution.