Fabrication of magnetic chitosan nanoparticles grafted with β-cyclodextrin as effective adsorbents toward hydroquinol

The adsorption characteristics of hydroquinol from aqueous solutions onto the β-cyclodextrin modified magnetic chitosan nanoparticles (CMCN) had been investigated. The characteristics results of FTIR, SEM and XRD showed that CMCN was successfully prepared. The influences of the pH of the solution and the contact time on the adsorption amounts had been discussed, and the appropriate process conditions for the adsorption of hydroquinol had been obtained. Equilibrium experiments fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of the CMCN at 303 K was determined to be 1.75 mmol/g for hydroquinol at the concentration of 9.0 mmol/L, much higher than some conventional adsorbents. The CMCN was stable and easily recovered. Moreover, the adsorption capacity was about 90% of the initial saturation adsorption capacity after being used four times.