CaCO3-decorated cellulose aerogel for removal of Congo Red from aqueous solution

The present study describes the preparation of CaCO3-loaded cellulose aerogel and evaluation of its adsorptive removal of Congo Red (CR) from aqueous solution. The CaCO3-cellulose aerogel was produced via in situ precipitation of CaCO3 into as-prepared cellulose aerogel, which was prepared by freeze-drying a crosslinked cellulose solution that was dissolved using a NaOH/urea solution. The particles that formed in the aerogel were confirmed to be calcite CaCO3. Adsorption studies illustrated that the CR uptake by the aerogel was dependent on the dye concentration and temperature. Incorporation of CaCO3 into the cellulose aerogel significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of the aerogel toward CR. The maximum adsorption capacity of the CaCO3-cellulose aerogel was approximately 75.81 mg/g.