Adsorption for metal ions of chitosan coated cotton fiber

A kind of adsorbent for metal ions, cotton fiber coated by high loading of chitosan (SCCH) was prepared. Its structure was characterized by elemental analysis, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The adsorption properties of SCCH for Cu2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, such as saturated adsorption capacities, static kinetics, and isotherm were investigated. The adsorption for Ni2+, Pb2+, and Cd2+ was controlled by liquid film diffusion, but by particle diffusion for Cu2+. The adsorption process for Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+ could be described with Langmuir or Freundlich equation, but only with Freundlich equation for Pb2+. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.