Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Evaluation of the efficiency of biodegradable cellulose hydrogels in removing metal ions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
noureddin nazarnezhad 1
Khadijeh Korram 2
Seyyd Majid Zabihzadeh 3
Shaghaygh Rezanezhad 4
1 supervisor
2 Graduated from Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, majoring in Cellulose Industries.
3 Faculty member, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
4 Graduated with a PhD in Cellulose Industries from Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
10.22034/ijwp.2025.2073901.1731
Abstract
Problem definition and objectives: Today, the study about biodegradable and environmentally friendly adsorbents has received great attention. Cellulose-based adsorbents are considered as one of the most important adsorbents to separation and purification of heavy metals from water and wastewater in industries due to their abundancy, biodegradability, and decomposition ability. Cellulose-based hydrogels are a group of polymeric materials with a three-dimensional network structure and physical or chemical crosslinks, and they are suitable materials for use as adsorbents due to their special properties such as hydrophilic nature, water absorption power, and desirable flexibility.
Methodology: In this study, hydrogel was prepared by using chitosan and cellulose. Chitosan and alpha-cellulose powder were mixed in equal proportions and 2 grams of each were used to prepare the hydrogel. Then, the hydrogels prepared based on chitosan-cellulose were used to treat wastewater containing heavy metals such as copper, lead, and cadmium. To simulate wastewater, an aqueous solution of heavy metals with an initial concentration of 30 ppm was prepared by diluting the standard solution with distilled water. Chitosan-cellulose hydrogel adsorbent was added in two amounts of 0.5 and 1 g to the aqueous solution containing heavy metals and was kept under continuous stirring for 24 hours. The final concentration of metals evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry. Also, the efficiency of the hydrogel adsorbent in the adsorption of copper, lead and cadmium was studied by the hydration rate and hydrogel dissolution rate. Also, the effect of pH of aqueous solutions and amount of chitosan-cellulose hydrogel adsorbent on the adsorption of heavy metals was investigated.
Results: Examination of the samples by atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that the highest amount of copper absorption was obtained in the P3C0 treatment, at 5.37 ppm, and the lowest amount was obtained in the P7C1 treatment, at 1.34 ppm. The highest amount of lead absorption was obtained in the P3C0 treatment, at 0.92 ppm, and the lowest amount of lead absorption was obtained in the P5C0, P7C0, P9C0, P5C1, P7C1, and P9C1 treatments, at zero. Also, the highest amount of cadmium absorption was in the P3C0 treatment at 13.6 ppm and the lowest amount of cadmium metal absorption was in the P7C1 treatment at 19.2 ppm. Also, the results showed that with increasing pH towards neutral and alkaline, the absorption amount decreased in all samples and adsorbent amounts. The results of the absorption of all three heavy metals with chitosan-cellulose hydrogel showed that in the adsorbent amount of 0.5 and 1 g, the absorption amount decreased with increasing adsorbent amount. The average hydration rate obtained is 0.3. This means that 30% of the hydrogel volume is water. The study of the dissolution rate of chitosan-cellulose hydrogel beads in three solvents: sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid showed that the highest and lowest dissolution rates were for hydrochloric acid at 1 and sodium at 0.27, respectively. The optimal amount of chitosan-cellulose hydrogel for the absorption of all three metals, copper, lead, and cadmium, was 0.5 g of adsorbent. The best pH for the removal of all three heavy metals from its aqueous solution was 3. Chitosan-cellulose hydrogel has the best efficiency in removing lead from its aqueous solution with a 100% reduction compared to the control sample.
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that hydrogel adsorbents prepared from chitosan-cellulose have a good performance in removing heavy metals. Also, these materials with a biodegradable and environmentally friendly structure are considered promising adsorbents for separating and purifying pollutants from water and wastewater. The results of the research showed that chitosan-cellulose hydrogel has a better performance in removing lead from aqueous solution than in removing copper and cadmium.
Keywords
: Effluent
heavy metals
atomic absorption spectroscopy
chitosan-cellulose hydrogel

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries
Volume 16, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 605-617