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A novel chitosan-based magnetic adsorbent [poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) grafted magnetic chitosan microspheres, PMCMs] was successfully fabricated via free radical polymerization for effectively removing the cationic dye methylene blue (MB). The effects of initial solution pH (1.0–10.0), temperature (30–50 °C), contact time (0–660 min) and initial concentration (50–1600 mg/L) were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity increased with the increasing of initial solution pH and temperature. The adsorption kinetic and adsorption equilibrium data fitted closely to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model respectively, confirming monolayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity of PMCMs for MB at initial solution 9.0 were 1000, 1250 and 1428 mg/g at 30, 40 and 50 °C, respectively. Furthermore, the magnetic microspheres could be easily separated using a magnet and effectively regenerated after finishing the treatment process. Therefore, PMCMs are promising candidates for the removal of dye from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapidly increased discharges of various complex dyeing wastewaters, adsorbents are required to own more properties such as cost-effectiveness, amphoteric ability, and rapid solid-liquid separation ability, to treat dyeing wastewaters. A multi-functional adsorbent was synthesized by co-grafting m-phenylenediamine and sodium allyl sulfonate on the surface of a low-cost base-material: hollow glass microsphere (HGM). Characterization results indicated the surface roughness and –Si–OH groups of HGM were increased by NaOH corrosion; functional groups such as aromatic-rings, –NH 2 , and –HSO 3 − were grafted on the surface of HGM. The synthesized adsorbent showed amphoteric attraction abilities for anionic acid green 25 and cationic basic fuchsin dyes. Kinetics and isotherms studies suggested the PSO model and Langmuir model were most satisfactory for adsorption processes, the theoretical maximum adsorption capacities for acid green 25 and basic fuchsin reached 454.55 and 588.24 mg g−1, respectively. The mechanism investigations indicated the electrostatic attraction, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonds were the potential interaction forces between dyes and adsorbents. The synthesized material owns self-floating ability due to the hollow structure of HGM, over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at water surface via the self-floating process in 12 min, which was beneficial to the solid-liquid separation process and the reuse of adsorbents. The technologies developed by these research efforts can serve as templates for synthesizing multi-functional adsorbents for complex wastewaters decontaminations. [Display omitted] • First demonstration of an amphoteric self-floating adsorbent. • The adsorption capacities of anionic/cationic dyes reached 454.55/588.24 mg g−1. • Electrostatic force, π-π stacking, hydrogen bond were dominant adsorption mechanisms. • Over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at the water surface within 12 min. • The multi-functional adsorbent is beneficial for cleaner production of dyeing goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]