Removal of copper (Cu2+) from water by sulfonated cellulose

Water insoluble sulfonated cellulose was prepared and applied for Cu²⁺ removal from water. The effects of sorbent dose, initial solution pH, temperature and initial Cu²⁺ concentration on the removal performance of sulfonated cellulose were investigated. Isothermal data were modeled with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Cu²⁺ sorption onto sulfonated cellulose followed the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum sorption capacity of 8.2?mg-Cu²⁺/g. Removal of Cu²⁺ showed rapid initial kinetics; in 3?min removal of Cu²⁺ reached equilibrium status. Thermodynamic study revealed an exothermic sorption process. In addition, sulfonated cellulose is a kind of green and renewable sorbent because it can be easily regenerated by 0.1?M HCl.