Carbon dots coated on amine functionalized cellulose sponge for the adsorption of the toxic herbicide atrazine

A novel adsorbent material has been synthesized using biodegradable precursor materials for the removal of endocrine disrupting herbicide atrazine from water. Carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method from dates. The synthesized carbon dots were analyzed by FT-IR, UV and PL studies. In the following step, carbon dots were coated on an amine functionalized cellulose sponge (AF-CS) and the carbon dots coated on amine functionalized cellulose sponge CD@AF-CS synthesized was used as an adsorbent for the removal of atrazine. CD@AF-CS was characterized using FT-IR and TGA analyses. Then the adsorption parameters such as solution pH and temperature were optimized. At pH 2, adsorption of atrazine is maximum and the adsorption is an exothermic process. The sorption follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Freundlich isotherm model satisfactorily. The maximum adsorption capacity of CD@AF-CS was found to be 32.06 mg/g at 10 degrees C and the saturation equilibrium was attained within 30 min. Further, the adsorbent can be regenerated and reused for the next cycle with comparatively good efficiency thereby reducing the waste generation. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the First International Conference on Frontiers in Chemical Sciences.

Automated summary

A novel adsorbent CD@AF-CS was synthesized for the removal of atrazine from water, showing high adsorption capacity at low pH and reaching saturation within 30 minutes. The adsorbent can be regenerated and reused to reduce waste generation, making it a promising material for water treatment applications.