Adsorption of Methyl Orange, Pb 2+ and Cd 2+ from Aqueous Solution by Composites of Lignocellulose‐Montmorillonite Modified with Methacryloxypropyl Trimethoxysilane

A composite material based on lignocellulose and montmorillonite clay (MPSgLig‐NaMMT) was prepared and evaluated as an adsorbent for the removal of pollutants (dyes and heavy metals) from aqueous solution. The lignocellulose‐montmorillonite composite was prepared by in situ intercalative polymerisation, using methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS) as a coupling agent. The composite material was characterised by FTIR, TGA and SAXS. The lignocellulose‐montmorillonite composite was assessed as an adsorbent for methyl orange dye from aqueous solution. The composite material showed enhanced adsorption of methyl orange (MetO) compared with the NaMMT or lignocellulose separately. Competitive adsorption studies were carried out from binary mixtures of MetO with Cd 2+ or Pb 2+ in aqueous solution. The adsorption process of MetO onto the composite material was found to follow the Freundlich adsorption model. The adsorption of methyl orange from binary mixtures, were found to follow both the pseudo first‐order and pseudo second‐order models.