The objective of this study was to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of a cationic functionalized wheat
starch, obtained with betaine hydrochloride and glycidyl trimethylammonium chloride by an
environmentally friendly process without the use of organic solvents. Surface functional groups of
samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the morphology of the
materials was examined using scanning electron microscopy, the nitrogen content was determined by
elemental analysis, while UV-VIS spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-tandem mass
spectrometry were used for adsorption investigation. The efficiency of obtained cationic starches to
adsorb the anionic and cationic dyes, as well as selected pharmaceuticals and pesticides was
investigated. Adsorption experiments were performed in a batch system to determine the effect of
contact time, initial concentration, and pH of the solution on the removal efficiency of crystal violet
dye, which was chosen as the model for the detailed study of adsorption. Pseudo-first and pseudosecond order models were used to examine the adsorption kinetic, while Langmuir and Freundlich
isotherm models were applied to equilibrium adsorption data. The results showed that
environmentally and economically acceptable adsorbents prepared in this study could be effective in
removing the examined organic pollutants.
