Carboxymethyl
cellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC),
and xylan are cross-linked with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) using
ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether cross-linker to produce hydrogels,
namely, βCD-CMC, βCD-MCC, and βCD-xylan, in alkaline
medium at 1:1 mole ratio. Additionally pure βCD gel is also
prepared in alkaline medium. The synthesized hydrogels are characterized
by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the swelling ratio,
gel fraction, and the morphologies are observed by a microscope. The
hydrogels are used to adsorb cadmium (Cd(II)) and nickel (Ni(II))
ions from aqueous solution. The adsorption studies are carried out
by varying adsorbent dosage from 80 to 500 mg, concentration from
5 to 500 mg L–1, pH from 2 to 8, and temperature
from 25 to 55 °C. The equilibrium adsorption data closely follow
the Langmuir model, suggesting the monolayer adsorption of metal ions
by the hydrogels. The adsorption kinetics are found to closely follow
the pseudo-second-order model.