Synthesis and surface modifications of mesoporous silica adsorbent for selective removal of chromium (Cr3+) ions from wastewater

• Published in: Separation science and technology Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 547 - 560
• Main Authors: Santhamoorthy, Madhappan, Saravana Mani, Kailasam, Periyasami, Govindasami, Kim, Seong-Cheol, Mohan, Anandhu, Phan, Thi Tuong Vy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.03.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Aluminum; Aqueous solutions; Chromium; Heavy metals; Imines; Ion adsorption; Ions; Magnesium; Manganese ions; Mesoporous silica adsorbent; Metal concentrations; Metal ions; Nanoparticles; pH effects; Schiff base ligand; Selective adsorption; Silica; Silicon dioxide; surface modification; Thermogravimetric analysis; Trivalent chromium; Wastewater; wastewater treatment; X-ray diffraction; Zeta potential; Zinc
• ISSN: 0149-6395; 1520-5754
• DOI: 10.1080/01496395.2024.2335345

A salicylaldehyde-based Schiff base ligand functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (SBA-15@SB NPs) were prepared for selective adsorption of chromium (Cr 3+ ) ions from aqueous solution. The prepared SBA-15@SB NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), N 2 sorption, SEM, TEM, zeta potential, particle size analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The selective metal ion adsorption capacity of SBA-15@SB NPs was determined using various competitive divalent metal ions (Ni 2+ , Zn 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Mg 2+ ), and trivalent metal ions (Al 3+ , Fe 2+ , and In 3+ ), respectively, at different experimental conditions such as varied solution pH (pH 3, 5, 6.5, 7.0, and 9.0), concentration of metal ions (50, 100 and 150 mg/L), adsorbent amount (0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 and 0.15 g), respectively. At pH 6.5, the synthesized SBA-15@SB NPs showed a high adsorption ability and selectivity toward Cr 3+ ions, adsorbing over 90% of the initial Cr3+ ion solution (100 mg/L) in about 210 mg/g.