Cyclodextrin modified filter paper for removal of cationic dyes/Cu ions from aqueous solutions

A filter paper was functionalized with β-cyclodextrin and citric acid via esterification reaction for the removal of dyes and Cu ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity and removal performance of the modified filter paper (MFP) was investigated using static and dynamic adsorption experiments. The static adsorption data fit well the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, and the adsorption capacity of Methylene Blue (MB), Brilliant Green (BG), Rhodamine-B (RB) and Cu(II) over the MFP were 124.6 mg/g, 130.4 mg/g, 99.7 mg/g and 39.1 mg/g, respectively, which are much higher than the unmodified filter paper (below 2 mg/g). Even better, the decolorization performance and Cu(II) removal of MFP are remarkable in dynamic adsorption. The effluent can reach the National Standard for dyeing and finishing of textile industry of China after three cycles in a continuous filtration-adsorption system. This method provides a new pathway to achieve high efficiency removal of dyes and metal ions from wastewater.