This work describes the preparation of new chelating material from mercerized sugarcane bagasse. The
first part treats the chemical modification of non-mercerized sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and twice-mercerized
sugarcane bagasse (MMSCB) with succinic anhydride. Mass percent gains (mpg) and degrees of succinylation
(DS) of succinylated non- and twice-mercerized sugarcane bagasse 1 (SCB 1 and MMSCB 1)
were calculated. MMSCB 1 exhibited an increase in mpg and DS of 49.2% and 0.9 mmol/g in relation to
SCB 1. SCB 2 and MMSCB 2 were obtained by treatment of MMSCB 1 and SCB 1 with bicarbonate solution
to release the carboxylate functions and characterized by FTIR. The second part evaluates and compares
the adsorption capacity of SCB 2 and MMSCB 2 for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions in an aqueous single metal
solution. Adsorption isotherms were developed using Langmuir model. MMSCB 2 exhibited an increase
in Qmax for Cd2+ (43.6 mg/g) and Pb2+ (83.3 mg/g) in relation to SCB 2.
2008 Elsevier Ltd. All