Title: Heavy metals removal from water by adsorption on propylthiol-functionalised mesoporous silica obtained by co-condensation

Authors: Jose Aguado, Jesus M. Arsuaga, Amaya Arencibia

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, School of Experimental Sciences and Technology (ESCET), Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Tulipan s/n, 28933, Mostoles, Spain. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, School of Experimental Sciences and Technology (ESCET), Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Tulipan s/n, 28933, Mostoles, Spain. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, School of Experimental Sciences and Technology (ESCET), Rey Juan Carlos University, c/Tulipan s/n, 28933, Mostoles, Spain

Abstract: Propylthiol-functionalised mesoporous silica SBA-15 prepared by co-condensation has been tested for heavy metal removal. Adsorption from aqueous solution was examined for Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II). Adsorption isotherms were determined at 20°C and Langmuir and Freundlich models were fitted to experimental data. The results from adsorption experiments indicate that mercury is efficiently removed from water. Copper, lead and cadmium uptakes from aqueous solution are noticeable but significantly smaller than mercury removal; moreover, lead and cadmium adsorption isotherms exhibit no adsorption maximum within the investigated range of concentration. The influence of solution pH on lead adsorption was also investigated.

Keywords: heavy metal removal; mesoporous silica; thiol-functionalised SBA-15; adsorption; wastewater treatment; heavy metals; co-condensation; copper removal; lead removal; cadmium removal; mercury removal.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2010.031541

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2010 Vol.12 No.2/3/4, pp.381 - 392

Published online: 10 Feb 2010 *

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