Adsorption behavior of heavy metal ions on cellulose graft copolymers

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption behavior of cadmium, copper and lead ions on holocellulosic materials containing various levels of polyacrylonitrile and poly(acrylic acid) grafts was examined. The amount of metal ions adsorbed per gram of the modified cellulosic substrate depended on the metal ion type, the nature and level of the incorporated graft polymer. In all cases grafting increased the metal ion‐binding capacity of the cellulosic materials (by up to 50% for Cu (II) ions). The influence of temperature and initial metal ions concentration on the sorption behavior of the metal ions on the composite materials was investigated.