Fabrication and characterization of a bacterial cellulose-chitosan and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid composite for adsorbing lead and cadmium in solution and achieving sustainable development goals

Abstract

The studied with efficiency of bacterial cellulose (BC) combined with chitosan (CS) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for the absorption of heavy metals, focusing on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The CS and EDTA were deposited on the BC under 12 different conditions. A physical analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy, the chemical structure was determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a heavy metal analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Minimal differences were observed in the FTIR spectra of the BC mixed with CS or EDTA and the BC mixed with CS and EDTA, the major spectral groups identified being C=C, C=O, C–H, and –NH<inf>2</inf>. The adsorption efficiencies of the Pb and Cd were found to be 2.89 ± 1.69 and 1.07 ± 0.086 mg kg^–1, respectively, for the BC combined with CS at a ratio of 1:1.25 volume per weight unit (v/w). This led to a significantly higher adsorption of Pb (p < 0.05) than under any other condition. For the BC combined with CS at a ratio of 1:5 v/w, Cd was absorbed more high significantly (p < 0.05) than under any other condition. The results of this study address several sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to the environment and human quality of life, including SDGs 3, 6, 9, 14, and 15. However, this study is only preliminary, and the most appropriate conditions need to be further developed to be applicable to real-world environments.