Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as an adsorbent in copper removal from aqueous solution. Issue 1 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khalil, N A; Abdullah, N S; Rahman, A S A; Hamid, H A; Fizal, A N S; Zulkifli, M; Hossain, M S; Yahaya, A N A
• Is Part Of: IOP conference series. Volume 1195:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/1195/1/012022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-8981

Abstract

Abstract: Many studies have been done on the natural adsorbent, natural/raw cellulose, modified cellulose and modified MCC as media for removing copper. However, the usage of unmodified microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as an adsorbent to remove heavy metals contaminants such as copper from an aqueous solution is scarcely being explored. Thus, the current study was done to assess the performance of the MCC, without any modification, based on the adsorption capacity and the Cu removal efficiency under varied process parameters. The MCC was successfully used for Cu 2+ or Cu (II) removal at pH < pH6. The adsorption parameters such as pH (1 to 6), contact time (0.5 to 24 hours), temperature (25 to 70 °C), initial Cu concentrations (1 to 5 mg/L) and MCC dosage (0.05 to 0.5 g) were significantly influenced the adsorption performance of the MCC. This study indicated the adsorption process occurred at pH ranging from pH 2.8 to 6 with 3 to 24 hours of duration were required to achieve the equilibrium condition. Lower temperature ranges (25 to 30 °C) were more favourable for adsorption than higher temperature ranges (40 to 70 °C). The increase in initial Cu concentration enhanced the adsorption capacity of MCC but decreased Cu removal. On the other hand, the increase in the MCC dosage resulted in the decreased adsorption capacity, however, increased Cu removal. MCC dosage of 0.225 g managed to remove Cu (II) with 95% efficiency at the initial Cu concentration of 1 mg/L, pH 5 and temperature 25 °C within 24 hours of contact time with 0.18 mg/g of adsorption capacity. Overall, high Cu removal efficiency (up to 95%) was achieved by the MCC which render its usage as adsorbent.