The fabrication of Spherical Hydroxypropyl Cellulose/Molybdenum Disulfide for the Efficient Removal of Europium

Abstract The hydroxypropyl cellulose embellished molybdenum disulfide (HPC/MoS2) was prepared to remove europium(Eu) from aqueous solution. Introducing hydroxypropyl cellulose into molybdenum disulfide can provide more functional groups and active sites to bind to Eu(III). The material showed a rugged and uneven spherical structure with a diameter of 4.5 µm. The adsorption of Eu(III) relied on pH, and the adsorption capacity of HPC/MoS2 for Eu(III) attained 157.2 mg/g at 298 K. The Eu(III) removal mechanisms included Eu(III) entering the layers of HPC/MoS2, electrostatic attraction, forming complexes, and generating sediment. This study can provide new insight into the design and application of two-dimensional nanomaterials for environmental pollution cleanup.