Fabrication of carboxymethyl chitosan–hemicellulose resin for adsorptive removal of heavy metals from wastewater

Abstract Carboxymethyl chitosan–hemicellulose resin (CMCH) was synthesized by thermal cross-linking process and characterized by FTIR, TGA, and SEM. Subsequently, the adsorption properties of CMCH toward Ni(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Mn(VII) and Cr(VI) were evaluated. Various factors affecting the uptake behavior such as pH, temperature, contact time and the initial concentration of the metal ions were investigated. The results showed that all adsorption processes fit the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm equation. Significantly, the regeneration experiments showed CMCH can be used as a potentially recyclable and effective adsorbent for the removal and recovery of metal ions from wastewater.