Adsorption of hydrogen sulphide from aqueous solutions using modified nano/micro fibrillated cellulose

In the present study, microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was modified by aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS), hydroxy-carbonated apatite (HAP), or epoxy in order to produce novel nanostructured adsorbents for the removal of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from the aqueous solutions. Structural properties of the modified MFC materials were examined using a scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and acid/base titration. These methods were used to verify the presence of nanostructures on the adsorbents surfaces as well as functionalities suitable for H2S adsorption. Adsorption of H2S by prepared adsorbents was investigated in batch mode under different experimental conditions, i.e., varying pH and H2S concentrations. H2S uptake was found to be 103.95, 13.38 and 12.73 mg/g by APS/MFC, HAP/MFC and epoxy/MFC, respectively from 80 mg/L H2S solution. The equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm for HAP/MFC and APS/MFC and the Sips isotherm for epoxy/MFC.