This work describes the preparation of new materials, derived from cellulose, to be used as complexing agents for heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions and, hence, to decontaminate waters polluted by such metals. The first part deals with the chemical modification of the cellulose using succinic anhydride. The carboxylic acid functions introduced in the material were used to anchor polyamines resulting in three novel modified celluloses. The materials obtained were characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The second part of the work features the evaluation of the adsorption capacity of the modified celluloses in relation to Cu2+ ions in aqueous solutions. The study was accomplished by titration, a traditional analytical method. The various materials showed a maximum complexing capacity ranging from 141 to 263 mg of Cu2+ per gram of the modified material. The efficiency for the complexation of Cu2+ ions was proportional to the number of amine functions introduced in cellulose.
Adsorption; modified cellulose; polyamines; heavy metals
