Microwave-assisted synthesis of β-cyclodextrin functionalized celluloses for enhanced removal of Pb(II) from water: Adsorptive performance and mechanism exploration

Herein, β–cyclodextrin (β–CD) was efficiently grafted onto rice husk-based celluloses using different cross-linking agents of epichlorohydrin (EPI) and glutaraldehyde (GA). By feat of microwave irradiation, the functionalization procedure was completed in 17 min, and the synthesized RHEPIMWβ-CD and RHGAMWβ-CD exhibited fast adsorption equilibrium for Pb(II) within 20 min, excellent monolayer adsorption capacities of 216.06 and 279.08 mg g−1 across an extensive pH scope of 3.0–6.0, unaffected affinity to Pb(II) during the existence of co-existing ions, superior reusability with over 81% and 87% of Pb(II) uptake sustained for four adsorption-desorption cycles. Thermodynamic parameters implied that the uptake process of Pb(II) occurred spontaneously (−ΔG0) with an endothermic characteristic (+ΔH0). Furthermore, electrostatic attraction and complexation were demonstrated to enhance the Pb(II) uptake onto the RHEPIMWβ-CD and RHGAMWβ-CD. In fix-bed columns, these two adsorbents also efficiently eliminated Pb(II) under various flow rates with experimental breakthrough curves well simulated by Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. Significantly, the RHEPIMWβ-CD and RHGAMWβ-CD could effectively purify acid battery effluent containing Pb(II) for meeting regulatory requirement. Overall, the fast fabrication, excellent adsorption and recycling performance facilitate the development of tailored adsorbents for Pb(II) elimination in wastewater. [Display omitted] •β-CD functionalized cellulose was fast and simply prepared by microwave irradiation.•Cross-linking agents of EPI and GA were used for the grafting of β-CD on cellulose.•Both RHEPIMWβ-CD and RHGAMWβ-CD possessed excellent Pb(II) uptake performance.•Complexation and electrostatic attraction enhanced the Pb(II) binding process.•Pb(II) was efficiently eluted by HCl and the adsorbents were effectively recycled.