Adsorption of Lead Ion Using Polymer-Modified Wheat Straw Carboxymethylcellulose

The wheat straw carboxymethylcellulose (WSC), a typical natural polymer, was modified by functional poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) with in situ polymerization, which afforded natural and synthetic polymer composite (WSC/PAA). The polymer (WSC/PAA) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. WSC/PAA was used as polymer adsorbent for removing Pb(II) ions in wastewater. The removal rate of 99.8% was obtained when the experimental conditions were chosen as follows: initial Pb(II) ion concentration; 600 mg/L, WSC/PAA concentration; 0.1 g/100 mL, pH; 5.0, contact time; 60 minutes at 20 degrees C. Adsorption dynamics were consistent with pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the isotherm model can meet the Langmuir isotherm.