Affiliation:
1. Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS), College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), University of South Africa, Science Campus – Florida, Johannesburg,South Africa
2. Biopolymer Modification and Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Nanostructures and Advanced Materials, Chemicals Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
In this work, we report on the biosorbent bio-composite consisting of pretreated sugarcane bagasse, chitosan, and epichlorohydrin, which was prepared using the blending method for the adsorption of phosphate from aqueous media. The effect of solvent concentration was investigated, and it was observed that the high solvent concentration significantly enhanced the extraction of cellulose. Moreover, pretreatment enhances the compatibility between the extracted cellulose and chitosan. Furthermore, the addition of epichlorohydrin significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity as well as the stability of the synthesized biosorbent bio-composite. Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the prepared bio-composite. Batch studies were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the bio-composite. The mechanism of adsorption between the biosorbent bio-composite and phosphate was through chemisorption as the data best fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The isotherm study showed that the data best fitted to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model, and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 15.26 mg/g. The biosorbent was found to be pH dependent, selective, and recyclable.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Organic Chemistry,General Chemistry,Catalysis