Cellulose Composite Aerogels with High Adsorption Capacity and Recyclability for Dye Removal

Graphical Cellulose composite aerogel with a rich three-dimensional network structure, low density, and high porosity is successfully obtained by the in situ self-polymerization of dopamine and acrylamide in an alkaline urine system. Cellulose composite aerogel exhibits high adsorption capacities and recyclability for methylene blue dye, which is higher than those reported for other bio-based adsorbents. Cellulose-based “biomass” adsorptive materials have gained significant attention because of their effectiveness in various applications. In this study, a cellulose composite aerogel with a rich three-dimensional network structure, low density, and high porosity was successfully obtained by the in situ self-polymerization of dopamine (DA) and acrylamide (AM) in an alkaline urine system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and other analytical techniques were used to analyze the physical and chemical structures of the cellulose composite aerogels. The results revealed that the introduction of DA and AM into the aerogel enhanced the adsorption and mechanical properties of the active sites, thereby boosting adsorption capacity and recyclability. By optimizing the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye using a cellulose composite aerogel, a maximum adsorption capacity of 406.89 mg g was obtained. The MB dye adsorption curve of the cellulose composite aerogel conformed to the Langmuir model, which indicates high adsorption capacity and recyclability. This confirms the high application potential of the cellulose composite aerogel in wastewater treatments.