Carboxymethylated Cellulose Fibers as Low-Cost and Renewable Adsorbent Materials

In recent years, the decontamination of heavy metals from bodies of water has become an important topic in China because of rapid industrialization, and it is of both fundamental and practical interest to develop ecofriendly, renewable, and degradable materials for this purpose. In this study, cellulose-based adsorbent materials were prepared, based on the carboxymethylation modification method. A carboxymethylated cellulose fiber (CMF) material with a high carboxyl content and desirable fiber morphology was obtained, and its application in the removal of heavy metal ions, such as copper ions, by a filtration–adsorption process, was investigated. The results showed that the CMF-based adsorbent material displayed an excellent adsorption capacity and regeneration properties because of its high carboxyl content and accessibility to copper ions. Moreover, the CMF material retained a good fiber morphology because of the mild carboxymethylation on the fiber surfaces (exterior and interior), which gives it great...