Incessant formation of chain-like mesoporous silica with a superior binding capacity for mercury

Dalton Trans. 2014 Apr 14;43(14):5299-308. doi: 10.1039/c3dt53348d.

Abstract

A novel incessant formation of chain like mesoporous silica (ICMS) has been easily materialized using a mixed surfactant (Pluronic P123 and FC-4) as a structuring reagent in conjunction with a thiol precursor (3-MPS) through a one-pot synthetic method. A particular thiol concentration facilitated the interaction of the micelle head groups to form long-chain micelles, where FC-4 enhanced further growth. The rapid interactions of the micelles and the condensation of silicic acid and its oligomeric derivatives by coordinating 3-MPS through hydrogen bonding interactions leads to form ICMS. The characterization results for the ICMS illustrated that it has an ordered hexagonal pore geometry. The capability of the ICMS for Hg(2+) adsorption was extensively studied under different optimal parameters and the adsorption isothermal values clearly fit with the Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal plots. This novel material exhibited an unprecedentedly high binding affinity toward even microgram levels of mercury ions in wastewater, compared to other thiol-based mesoporous silica.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Fluorocarbons / chemistry
  • Mercury / chemistry*
  • Micelles
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Poloxalene / chemistry
  • Silanes / chemistry
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • Fluorocarbons
  • Micelles
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Silanes
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • pluronic block copolymer P123
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane
  • Poloxalene
  • Mercury