Natural cellulose fibers from Agave Americana L. ASPARAGACEAE as an effective adsorbent for mercury in aqueous solutions

This study investigated the use of functionalized cellulose fibers (FCF) derived from Agave Americana L. ASPARAGACEAE as an effective adsorbent for mercury removal from aqueous solutions. The composition, surface properties, and morphology of the FCF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of the pH, contact time, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and initial Hg(II) concentration on the adsorption process were studied. Under the optimized experimental conditions, FCF achieved a removal efficiency of over 92%, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 8.29 mg/g. The Langmuir isotherm model best described the equilibrium data, whereas the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was used to investigate the adsorption mechanism. Thermodynamic studies indicated a spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process. The effectiveness of the FCF was further demonstrated by its ability to remove approximately 91% of Hg from real mine water in Ecuador. These findings highlight the potential of Agave Americana L. fibers as promising, eco-friendly, and sustainable adsorbents for the remediation of mercury pollution in aqueous environments.