Effects of Surface Properties and Solvent PH Values on the Adsorption/Desorption Abilities of Mesoporous SBA-15 to Methylene Blue Molecules

Abstract

Methylene blue (MB) was used as model molecule to investigate the effects of surface properties and solvent pH values on the adsorption and desorption (or release) behaviors of mesoporous SBA-15 materials. It was found that the treatment of SBA-15 with a pH 7.8 aqueous solution can enhance the adsorption rate and capacity in comparison with the pristine SBA-15. The effect of pH values on MB releasing from the weak base treated SBA-15 and the pristine one have been studied and been compared in pH values range from 0.5 to 7.0. Both of them showed a maximum releasing rate at about pH 2 and all of the treated SBA-15 samples showed a higher releasing quantity than the pristine ones. The influence mechanisms of base treatment on the adsorption ability and that of pH values on the releasing properties of SBA-15 samples have been analyzed and been discussed based on the composition, the morphology, the surface area and pore size distribution and adsorption/desorption measurements.