Fast removal of copper ions from aqueous solution by chitosan-g-poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite composites

Novel chitosan-g-poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite (CTS-g-PAA/APT) composites were applied as adsorbents for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The effects of the initial pH value (pH0) of Cu(II) solution, contact time (t), APT content (wt%) and the initial concentration of Cu(II) solution (C0) on the adsorption capacity of the composites were investigated. Results from kinetic experimental data showed that the Cu(II) adsorption rate on the composites with 10, 20 and 30 wt% APT was fast and more than 90% of the maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) occurred within the initial 15 min. The adsorption kinetics was better described by the pseudo-second order equation, and their adsorption isotherms were better fitted for the Langmuir equation. The results of the five-time consecutive adsorption-desorption studies showed that the composites had high adsorption and desorption efficiencies, which implies that the composites may be used as quite effective adsorbents for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution.