Facile fabrication of crown ether functionalized lignin-based biosorbent for the selective removal of Pb(II)

Authors: JIN, CAN - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; LIU, GUIFENG - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; WU, GUOMIN - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; HUO, SHUPING - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; Liu, Zengshe - Kevin; KONG, ZHENWU - Chinese Academy Of Forestry

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2020
Publication Date: 7/29/2020
Citation: Jin, C., Liu, G., Wu, G., Huo, S., Liu, Z., Kong, Z. 2020. Facile fabrication of crown ether functionalized lignin-based biosorbent for the selective removal of Pb(II). Industrial Crops and Products. 155. Article 112829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112829.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112829

Interpretive Summary: Heavy metal pollution in water resources has been considered a serious world environmental issue for its adverse effects both in aquatic ecosystems and on human health. Lead, one of the most toxic heavy metals, can be easily accumulated in the human body, either through the food chain or drinking water, which causes many devastating diseases and disorders. In this research, we discovered that by using a byproduct from the paper and pulp industry, we were able to develop new lignin-based adsorbents or sponges. These new adsorbents were found to have superior selectivity and adsorption capacity for isolating or adsorbing lead from water. These new adsorbents will serve as a new bioresource-based and recyclable material to aid in the purification of contaminated waters.

Technical Abstract: A novel 1-Aza-18-crown-6 functionalized lignin-based adsorbent (AFL) is facilely prepared through Mannich reaction in a one-step process. Structure characterization by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful fabrication of AFL. AFL was observed to display enhanced adsorption capacity (Qmax = 91.4 mg/g) and superior selectivity toward Pb(II) ions, due to a display of crown ether units and their interaction with metal ions. The adsorption equilibrium results from a kinetic study indicated that the Pb(II) adsorption by AFL was a chemisorption process. Additionally, the obtained thermodynamic parameters showed the adsorption mechanism to be an exothermic and spontaneous process at room temperature. The AFL could be regenerated by desorption of Pb(II) ions and remained at over 80 % adsorption efficiency after four adsorption-desorption cycles. Therefore, the AFL displays acceptable adsorption performance and can serve as a bioresource-based and recyclable adsorbent material, portending a new expectation in the application for water purification engineering.