A new electrospun chitosan/phosphorylated nanocellulose biosorbent for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions

The removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution was carried out using a new nanofibrous electrospun non-woven sorbent made from Chitosan (CS) and Phosphorylated Nanocellulose (PNC). The sorbent material was characterized using SEM, EDX, AFM and FTIR. The sorption capacity reached 62.3 mg/g at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C. The Cd(II) adsorption occurred rapidly and achieved equilibrium within 120 min. The pseudo-second order kinetic model best fitted experimental data. The sorption isotherm was also best described by the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of Langmuir was 232.55 mg/g at 25 degrees C, and increased with temperature, which can be explained by the high affinity of amine and phosphate groups with cadmium on the surface of the nanofibrous mats. The thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption is a spontaneous endothermic reaction. This work confirmed that an electrospun nanofibrous mats based on CS and PNC can be used as an alternative material for the removal of cadmium ions, contributing to water sustainability.