Removal of clofibric acid from aqueous solution by polyethylenimine-modified chitosan beads

Abstract

Polyethylenimine (PEI)-modified chitosan was prepared and used to remove clofibric acid (CA) from aqueous solution. PEI was chemically grafted on the porous chitosan through a crosslinking reaction, and the effects of PEI concentration and reaction time in the preparation on the adsorption of clofibric acid were optimized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that PEI macromolecules were uniformly grafted on the porous chitosan, and the analysis of pore size distribution indicated that more mesopores were formed due to the crosslinking of PEI molecules in the macropores of chitosan. The PEI-modified chitosan had fast adsorption for CA within the initial 5 h, while this adsorbent exhibited an adsorption capacity of 349 mg·g⁻¹ for CA at pH 5.0 according to the Langmuir fitting, higher than 213 mg·g⁻¹ on the porous chitosan. The CA adsorption on the PEI-modified chitosan was pH-dependent, and the maximum adsorption was achieved at pH 4.0. Based on the surface charge analysis and comparison of different pharmaceuticals adsorption, electrostatic interaction dominated the sorption of CA on the PEI-modified chitosan. The PEI-modified chitosan has a potential application for the removal of some anionic micropollutants from water or wastewater.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

clofibric acid / PEI-modified chitosan / adsorption capacity / adsorption mechanism / electrostatic interaction

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51078217) and Special Fund of State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution (No. 12L02ESPC). Additionally, the analytical work was supported by the Laboratory Fund of Tsinghua University.

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