Preparation of dithiocarbamatecellulose derivatives and their adsorption properties for trace elements

Tosylcellulose was treated separately with aniline, benzylamine, n-butylamine and piperazine to give four different aminocelluloses which were further treated with carbon disulfide to furnish four dithiocarbamatecelluloses (AND, BZD, BUD and PID). A comparative study was made of their performance as adsorbents for several kinds of metal ions. PID, which has the highest degree of substitution of the dithiocarbamate group of the four derivatives obtained, was investigated for its adsorption behavior towards Ag⁺, As⁵⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sb⁵⁺; Se⁴⁺, Te⁴⁺ and Zn²⁺. PID showed good adsorption characteristics with relatively large capacities for Ag⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Se⁴⁺ ranging from 9.5 to 370 mg g^-1 of resin.