To realize the concept of e2 (economy and environment protection), in the present study, pine needles, a
forest biomass, was utilized as feedstock to extract cellulose for further functionalization via
epichlorohydrin crosslinking and periodate oxidation to crosslinked cellulose dialdehyde (CCDA). The
resultant material was well characterized by various techniques and investigated as an adsorbent for
Congo red (CR), a carcinogenic diazo dye, via the Schiff-base formation. Parametric study of Congo red
adsorption was carried out and the optimum time, temperature, pH and dye concentration were
investigated. Furthermore, the maximum retention capacity and reusability of the candidate material
was studied. The obtained data was analyzed on the basis of various kinetic and isotherm models. The CR
adsorption on CCDA was observed to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm. The
synthesized candidate material was reusable up to five repeat cycles and has maximum retention
capacity of 34.7 mg/g.
that the adsorption is exothermic and spontaneous. The average MB adsorption capacity was found out as 49 mg/g and average BET surface area
of fibers was calculated as 123 m2/g.