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Xanthate-Modified Cellulose Nanofibrils for Efficient Heavy Metal Capture from Wastewater
Pinhong Chen1, Jilong Mo1, Zhipeng Sun1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Paper Making and Paper-Based Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou510641, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Xanthate-modified cellulose nanofibrils (XCNF) offer a selective and reusable solution for removing heavy metals from industrial wastewater. This advanced material demonstrates high adsorption capacity and efficient regeneration, addressing limitations of conventional adsorbents.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional adsorbents struggle with selectivity and regeneration in complex wastewater containing multiple metal ions.
- Developing efficient and reusable materials is crucial for effective wastewater remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop xanthate-modified cellulose nanofibrils (XCNF) as a high-performance adsorbent for heavy metal removal.
- To investigate the adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability of XCNF in complex wastewater matrices.
Main Methods:
- Xanthate modification of cellulose nanofibrils to create chelating sites.
- Characterization using SEM, elemental analysis, ATR-FTIR, XRD, and XPS.
- Adsorption studies using batch experiments, kinetic modeling (pseudo-second-order), and isotherm analysis (Freundlich).
Main Results:
- XCNF (DS 0.16) exhibited a high Cu(II) adsorption capacity of 738.47 mg/g.
- Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm, indicating heterogeneous multilayer adsorption.
- Achieved 99.53% Cu(II) removal from industrial wastewater and retained >71% capacity after 10 cycles.
Conclusions:
- XCNF presents a selective, reusable, and efficient adsorbent for remediating complex industrial wastewater.
- The material effectively removes heavy metals, overcoming limitations of traditional adsorbents.
- This work contributes a promising cellulose-based solution for advanced wastewater treatment.