Modification and Characterization of Cellulose Fibers from Palm Coated by ZrO2·nH2O Particles for Sorption of Dichromate Ions

Surface modification of palm fibers has been made by different methods. This work, cellulose fibers from palm were bleached and modified by zirconium oxychloride. Cellulose fibers were coated with ZrO2·nH2O particles with different amount of zirconium oxychloride in acidic medium in the presence of cellulose fibers using ammonium hydroxide as the precipitating agent. The coating of hydrous zirconium oxide on cellulose fibers was carried out by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, themogravimetric analysis, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma were also techniques used to characterize the materials. Dichromate ion was adsorbed on the Cell/ZrO2·nH2O by immersing this solid in an aqueous solution of potassium dichromate. The analyses to determine the concentration after the adsorption were made using UV–Vis spectrum, in a wavelength of 349 nm. The results were satisfactory showing that the Cell/ZrO2·nH2O materials obtained presented good adsorption capacity. Results showed that the amount ZrO2·nH2O particles coated on cellulose fibers influenced in the sorption capacity of dichromate ions.