Immobilization of ethylene sulfide in aminated cellulose for removal of the divalent cations

Cellulose (Cel) was first chemically modified with thionyl chloride to increase its reactivity. In the next step CelCl was reacted with ethylenediamine (CelEn) and subsequently reacted with ethylene sulfide to obtain a solid substance, CelEnEs. The modification reactions were confirmed by elemental analysis, TG, XRD, 13C NMR and FTIR. The chemically modified biopolymer CelEnEs had an order of divalent metal sorption of Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+, and the maximum adsorption capacities were found to be 6.282 ± 0.023, 5.783 ± 0.015, 5.561 ± 0.017, 4.694 ± 0.013, 1.944 ± 0.062 and 1.733 ± 0.020 mmol g−1, respectively. The equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin models, and in general, the experimental data best fit the Freundlich model. This newly synthesized biopolymer proved to be a chemically useful material for cations removal from aqueous solution.