This work describes the preparation and characterization of cellulose/hydrous zirconium oxide composites prepared by conventional precipitation (PC) and homogeneous solution (PSH) from cellulose of the sugarcane bagasse and subsequent adsorption of phosphate ions. The composite obtained by the PC method was prepared using an ammonium solution as precipitating agent, whereas the composite obtained by the PSH method was prepared using urea as precipitating agent. The adsorption of phosphate ions was carried out reacting a KH2PO4 solution with ammonium molibdate under acid conditions to form an ammonium phosphomolybdic complex. The analyses to determine the concentration after adsorption were performed using UV-Vis at 880 nm. The results were satisfactory showing that the Cell/ ZrO2.nH2O composites obtained for both the methods presented good adsorption capacity.
adsorption of phosphate ions; homogeneous solution precipitation; conventional precipitation
