Collagen/cellulose hydrogel beads reconstituted from ionic liquid solution for Cu(II) adsorption

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Heavy metal contamination, particularly Cu(II) ions, poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Developing efficient and sustainable adsorbents for heavy metal removal is crucial for water purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel biodegradable collagen/cellulose hydrogel beads (CCHBs).
• To investigate the Cu(II) ion adsorption performance of CCHBs.
• To compare the adsorption efficiency of CCHBs with cellulose hydrogel beads (CHBs).

Main Methods:

• CCHBs were prepared by reconstitution from a [C4mim]Cl solution.
• Adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate Cu(II) ion removal from aqueous solutions.
• The effects of collagen/cellulose ratio, pH, and initial concentration on adsorption were studied.
• Langmuir isotherms were used to determine the maximum adsorption capacity.

Main Results:

• CCHBs exhibit a three-dimensional macroporous structure with amino groups as active binding sites.
• Adsorption capacity significantly increased with a collagen/cellulose mass ratio exceeding 2/1.
• Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 6, and capacity increased with initial Cu(II) concentration.
• The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) for CCHB3 (3/1 ratio) was 1.06 mmol/g.
• CCHBs demonstrated stable adsorption performance over four adsorption-desorption cycles.

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable CCHBs are effective adsorbents for Cu(II) ion removal.
• The collagen content and pH are critical factors influencing adsorption efficiency.
• CCHBs offer a promising, reusable, and sustainable material for wastewater treatment.