Kodali J, et al. RSC Adv, 2021, 11, 22640-22651.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a common herbicide used in agriculture. However, its presence in water and agricultural soil runoff poses significant environmental and health risks. DEAE-cellulose is explored as a potential adsorbent to remove (2,4-D) from contaminated water and soil runoff to address this issue.
Material Characterization:
The DEAE-cellulose is characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the adsorption of 2,4-D. The SEM images revealed that the surface of DEAE-cellulose became smoother after 2,4-D adsorption, with rough patches covered in dark spots, indicating the presence of the herbicide.
To confirm the elemental composition of 2,4-D on DEAE-cellulose, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) is employed. The EDX spectra showed significant peaks for chlorine and other elements, verifying the adsorption of 2,4-D on the DEAE-cellulose surface.
Adsorption Efficiency: The adsorption of 2,4-D on DEAE-cellulose is found to be highly effective at neutral pH. The Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity is determined to be 429 mg/g, indicating a high affinity of DEAE-cellulose for 2,4-D.
Thermodynamics and Kinetics: The adsorption process is characterized by favorable thermodynamics, showing spontaneous adsorption with exothermic enthalpy. The kinetics of adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating rapid adsorption rates.
Mechanistic Insights: Comprehensive analysis revealed that the adsorption mechanism involved electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and Lewis acid-base interactions. These interactions contributed to the high efficiency of DEAE-cellulose in removing 2,4-D from aqueous solutions.
Through this research, DEAE-cellulose has proven to be a significant and effective material for the removal of 2,4-D, contributing to a safer and cleaner environment.