Synthesize Cellulosic Nano-Composite Structure from Trash Papers and its use for heavy metal removal from Aqueous Media

In this research, the adsorption efficiency of Cellulose (as a raw compound prepared from trash papers) and Cellulose Nanopolystyrene (CNP) as adsorbents for waste water treatment was investigated. Lead and cadmium ions as the pollutants added to aqueous solutions and a synthetic effluent solution was prepared.

The effective factors influencing the adsorption process including the pH of aqueous phase and its ionic strength, the adsorbent dose, the duration of adsorbent, and time dependency have been assessed.  The removal efficiency was assessed by determination of studied metal ions using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer before and after removal procedure.

It was found that 0.1g of Cellulose as adsorbent removed 96.81%‚ 50.06% of Pb2+and Cd2+ from 45 mL of synthetic effluent solution at pH =5 after 30 min at 27°C, respectively.  Moreover, 0.1g of the CNP removed 96.88%‚ 60.41% of Pb2+and Cd2+ from similar above-mentioned conditions. The CNP showed better adsorbent characteristics in the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions than the Cellulose. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models successfully demonstrated the experimental observations for removing Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions by CNP as the adsorbent. The Dubinin-Radushkevich   D-R) and Temkin isotherm models were better adapted than other used models for the adsorption procedure.

This research confirms the efficiency of treated Cellulose and Cellulose Nano-polystyrene (CNP) adsorbents from trash papers for eliminating Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from synthetic effluent solution.