In the present research, we describe a novel approach
for in situ
synthesis of cellulose microfibrils-
grafted
-hydroxyapatite
(CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%)) as an adsorbent using
phosphate rock and date palm petiole wood as alternative and natural
Moroccan resources. The synthesized CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%) was extensively characterized by several instrumental
techniques like thermogravimetry analysis, Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction,
31
P nuclear magnetic resonance,
scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller
analysis. The developed adsorbent was used to remove Pb(II) and Cu(II)
from aqueous solutions. The influences of different adsorption parameters
such as contact time, initial metal concentration, and amount of adsorbent
were also investigated thoroughly using response surface methodology
in order to optimize the batch adsorption process. The results confirmed
that the adsorption process follows a polynomial quadratic model as
high regression parameters were obtained (
R
2
value = 99.8% for Pb(II) and
R
2
value
= 92.6% for Cu(II)). According to kinetics and isotherm modeling,
the adsorption process of both studied ions onto CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%) followed the pseudo-second-order model, and
the equilibrium data at 25 °C were better fitted by the Langmuir
model. The maximum adsorption capacities of the CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%) adsorbent toward Pb(II) and Cu(II) are 143.80
and 83.05 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the experiments of multicycle
adsorption/desorption indicated that the CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%) adsorbent could be regenerated and reused up to three
cycles. The high adsorption capacities of both studied metals and
regeneration performances of the CMFs-
g
-HAP
N
(8%) suggest its applicability as a competitive adsorbent for large-scale
utilization.
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