A systematic review on carbohydrate biopolymers for adsorptive remediation of copper ions from aqueous environments—Part B: Isotherms, thermokinetics and reusability

The presence of copper in aquatic environment is a serious threat for human health and ecosystem conservation. Adsorption is a powerful, operable and economic method for remediation of copper ions from aqueous phase. Carbohydrate biopolymers have emerged as promising, effective and environmental-friendly adsorbents for copper remediation. In part A of this review, different types of carbohydrate biopolymer adsorbents were surveyed focusing on prevalent and novel synthesis and modification methods. In current work (part B of the review), isothermal, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the copper adsorption by carbohydrate-based adsorbents as well as the regeneration and reusability of the biopolymer adsorbents are overviewed. Adsorption capacity, time required for equilibrium (adsorption rate), thermal-sensitivity of the adsorption, favorability extent, and sustainability of the adsorbents and adsorption processes are valuable and useful outcomes, resulted from the thermokinetic and reusability investigations. Such considerations are critical for the process design and scale up regarding technical, economical and sustainability of the adsorption process. Mono-layer versus multi-layer adsorption and EDTA as a potential eluting agent for copper ion extraction from biopolymer adsorbent network. [Display omitted] •Isotherms, kinetics and reuse of carbohydrate biopolymer adsorbents were surveyed.•Adsorption rate, capacity and thermal-sensitivity are essential for process design.•Regenerability and reuse are crucial from economic and environmental viewpoints.•Zeolites and clays highly affect the adsorption features of chitosan composites.