Preparation of polyethyleneimine modified cellulose/nano-CdS composite aerogel and its photocatalytic properties for organic dyes under visible light.

Organic dyes are extensively used in industries such as textiles and printing, contributing to the increasing discharge of wastewater and posing significant risks to human health. Conventional photocatalysts, including metal oxides and sulfides, often exhibit limited pollutant adsorption capacities and suffer from charge carrier recombination. In this study, we synthesized a novel composite aerogel via the lyophilization of cellulose modified with polyethyleneimine and cadmium sulfide. This composite demonstrated exceptional efficacy in degrading of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The composite exhibits a unique three-dimensional structure characterized by a multitude of uneven pores, providing abundant active sites favorable for catalytic reactions. Furthermore, the material shows significant light absorption within the visible spectrum and has a low band gap. Under optimized conditions, the removal efficiencies of MO and MB reached 99.56 % and 100 %, respectively. After five consecutive cycles, the degradation rates of MO and MB remained high at 83 % and 87 %, respectively, showcasing excellent photocatalytic activity and stability. The amino and hydroxyl groups within the composite act as electron donors during photocatalytic reactions, with reaction kinetics following a quasi-first-order model. The mechanism of dye removal by the composite involves a synergistic interplay between adsorption and photocatalytic reduction, underscoring its potential for efficient wastewater treatment.