Arsenic Removal Via Cellulose-Based Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials from Drinking Water

Cellulose/silica derived hybrids materials (CSH), functionalized with aluminium, calcium, and propylammonium ions, were tested for their possible use in the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions with controlled compositions to levels lower than 10 μg As/L. CSH were synthesized by sol-gel method using bleached pulp, as source of cellulose fiber, and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as main silica precursor. The silica network, made in situ, contained various anchored cations such as propylammonium (CSH-PA), aluminium (CSH-Al) and, calcium (CSH-Ca). Thin films or mesoparticles of silica were deposited on cellulose fibers as shown by SEM and XRD. These hybrid materials were immersed in controlled ionic strength aqueous solutions with arsenic concentrations lower than 0.2 mg As/L. The best performance was shown by CSH-PA that was able to remove a maximum of 20 % of the total arsenic concentration.