BackgroundTiO(2)-cellulose composite fibers are a new type of bio-sorbent combining natural polymers and nanoparticles. However, their batch adsorption capacity is limited. Here mesoporous TiO2-cellulose composite fibers were synthesized and a filter medium was subsequently made from them to remove lead continuously by dynamic adsorption. ResultsTiO(2)-cellulose composite fibers with rough hierarchical surface structure were fabricated by in situ growing mesoporous TiO2 on cellulose fibers via microwave-facilitated hydrolysis. The composite fibers were then wet-laid into a filter medium to remove low-concentration Pb2+ in water through adsorptive filtration. The breakthrough curves were found to be better predicted by the dose-response model originally established for a fixed column bed. With a volume of merely 2.07 cm(3), the medium can treat 150.0 L of water containing 50 ppb lead to the drinking water standard. The filter performance was improved by incorporation of small non-functional glass fibers to minimize the pore size and its distribution. The medium was also Pb2+ selective over co-existing cations, and could be easily regenerated and reused without reduction in performance. ConclusionThe filter medium fabricated by nano-TiO2 decorated cellulose fibers showed enhanced adsorption capacity for lead through adsorptive filtration. Such filter beds have high potential for toxic micro-pollutant removal from drinking water. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry