Ultra-efficient Copper Ions Adsorption of Chitosan-montmorillonite Composite Aerogel for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The modified montmorillonite(MMT) has a two-dimensional stable and ordered lamellar structure. The addition of chitosan(CS) cross-links the two-dimensional sheets to build a three-dimensional network structure with a high specific surface area. We have prepared the best MMT-based water treatment materials that have been reported. This new type of aerogel can efficiently adsorb heavy metal ions in wastewater. The structure and performance of the composite material were characterized in this article. Besides, the adsorption kinetics, adsorption thermodynamics, pH influence, and recycling performance are all focused on. The adsorption equilibrium time of CS-MMT2 is 50 min. The removal rate of Cu2+ is as high as 98.21%. The maximum adsorption capacity is 86.95 mg/g. The adsorption process of Cu2+ by CS-MMT composite aerogel conforms to the quasi-second-order kinetic model and the Langrangian adsorption isotherm. After three cycles, the removal rate of Cu2+ by CS-MMT2 remained above 80%. This article also involves the discussion of the material's adsorption mechanism for Cu2+. This is a kind of environmentally friendly material that can be mass-produced, cheap, efficient, and excellent, which is of great significance to the development of environmental protection.