Sorption of Cadmium, Lead and Zinc Ions on Sulphur-Containing Chemically Modified Cellulosic Materials

Cellulosic materials containing 1.7% and 3.3% thiol groups were prepared by treating maize cobs meal with thioglycollic acid solution at 29°C. Equilibrium sorption studies of cadmium, lead and zinc ions from aqueous solutions on the unmodified and thiolated cellulosic materials were carried out at 29°C using various concentrations of the dilute metal ions solutions. The metal ion binding capacity of the cellulosic material was significantly improved by the incorporated thiol groups. The influence of pH of the metal ion solutions on the uptake levels of the metal ions by the cellulosic substrate was examined.