Analysis of Heavy Metal Toxic Ions by Adsorption onto Amino-functionalized Ordered Mesoporous Silica

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41) materials with different textural properties were prepared using alkyl (dodecyl, cetyl, eicosane) trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB, CTAB, ETAB, respectively) as structure directing surfactants, functionalized with amine groups and used as adsorbent for the toxic metal ions, Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II). Amino functionalization of mesoporous MCM-41 was achieved by cocondensation of N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl] aniline with tetraethyl orthosilicate. Adsorption isotherm and adsorption capacity of the amine functionalized materials for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions were followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results demonstrate that amine functionalized MCM-41 prepared with ETAB showed higher adsorption capacity for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions in comparison to MCM-41 prepared with CTAB and DTAB. The higher adsorption capacity for MCM-41(ETAB) was correlated with amine content in the material (determined by CHN analysis) and relative decrease in pore volume and pore diameter. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, nitrogen adsorptiondesorption measurements and Fourier Transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were used to follow the changes in the textural parameters and surface properties of the mesoporous materials as a result of amine functionalization to correlate with the adsorption characteristics. The adsorption process was found to depend on the pH of the medium.