Novel cellulose/montmorillonite mesoporous composite beads for dye removal in single and binary systems

Fine aminated cellulose/montmorillonite mesoporous composite beads (ACeMt) were prepared as green-based adsorbent via a novel approach utilizing ultra-fine calcium carbonate as a pore-forming agent to increase the porosity and specific surface area of ACeMt. The resulting bioadsorbent was characterized by means of SEM, FTIR and BET analysis and used for dye removal. Adsorption experimental data were fitted with various isotherm and kinetic models. The results indicated that chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step. The maximum adsorption capacities of ACeMt, better described by Langmuir model, were much higher than those of conventional adsorbents, particularly for the removal of Auramine O dye (up to 1336.2 mg/g at 55 °C). The adsorptions at equilibrium were better correlated with Redlich-Peterson model and uncompetitive Langmuir isotherm model in single and binary system, respectively. Overall, ACeMt is a promising bioadsorbent and highly efficient in the removal of dyes for water clarification.