Highly Effective Removal of Methylene Blue Using a Chemi-Mechanical Pretreated Cellulose-based Superabsorbent Hydrogel

Eucalyptus bleached chemical pulp was fibrillated using a PFI pulp beater and ball mill method and was modified by acryloyl chloride. A novel porous cellulose-based hydrogel was prepared from the modified cellulose and acrylic acid for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The structure and morphology of the hydrogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The influence of various parameters, such as pH value, hydrogel dosage, initial MB concentration, and contact time on the dye adsorption, were investigated. The equilibrium experimental data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of the hydrogel reached 3003 mg/g. In addition, the reusability study suggested that the hydrogel showed great adsorption capacity and a high removal ratio, even after the 5th adsorption-desorption cycle. Thus, the modified cellulosebased hydrogel is a potential superabsorbent for the removal of MB from wastewater.