Preparation and properties of surface imprinted magnetic cellulose microsphere with highly selective adsorption

Molecularly imprinted magnetic composite microspheres (MIP-MCM) were prepared by a surface functional monomer-directing system. Cellulose and Fe₃O₄ composite microsphere was the core and then was coated a layer of MIP on the surface. Fourier transform Infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) methods were used to characterize the structure of MIP-MCM. In this article, Rhodamine B (RhB) was chosen as the template molecule. The adsorption abilities of MIP-MCM toward RhB were studied through adsorption kinetics and adsorption thermodynamics. The adsorption kinetics curves met pseudo-second-order model more. The adsorption isotherms could be described by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum adsorption amount was calculated to be 0.542 mg/mg, much higher than the common adsorbents. MIP-MCM was also adsorption-selective to RhB with highly regenerate and kept stable in a wild pH and temperature range. In brief, MIP-MCM is very potential in the application of removal of dye and sewage treatment.