Development of Green and Sustainable Cellulose Acetate/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Films as Efficient Adsorbents for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Novel ecofriendly adsorbents, cellulose acetate/graphene oxide (CA-GO) nanocomposite, were prepared from sugarcane bagasse agro-waste for removing Ni2+ ions from wastewater. Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by the oxidation of sugarcane bagasse using ferrocene under air atmosphere. Cellulose acetate (CA) was also prepared from sugarcane bagasse by extraction of cellulose through a successive treatments with sulfuric acid (10% v/v), sodium hydroxide (5% w/v), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide, and finally, followed by acetylation. CA-GO was prepared via mixing of GO and CA in the presence of calcium carbonate and different concentrations of GO, including 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt% relative to the weight of CA. The CA-GO nanocomposite showed porous microstructures with high surface area, which enhance their ability towars the adsorption of Ni2+ ions from wastewater. The morphological properties of the prepared adsorbents were explored by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The efficiency of the CA-GO towards the adsorption of Ni2+ ions from wastewater was explored against as time, temperature, and total content of Ni2+ ions. The adsorption measurements of Ni2+ ions were investigated within the concentration range of 10–40 mg/L, time range between 15 and 90 min, and temperature range between 25 °C and 55 °C. The results displayed a considerable improvement in the adsorption process of Ni2+ ions by CA-GO-2 with a removal efficiency of 96.77%. The isotherms were monitored to best fit the Langmuir model. Finally, the adsorption performance of the prepared CA-GO nanocomposite films demonstrated promising properties as green, sustainable and cheap adsorbents for water pollutants.