Abstract
Silica-supported branched polyethylenimine (Sil@PEI) is a conventional adsorbent and shows a limited affinity to anionic surfactants and small dyes (K = 106–107 L/mol). If the PEI is alkylated with cetyl groups (C16), the K of the resulting adsorbents (Sil@PEI@C16-x, where x is the fraction of PEI units being alkylated) is significantly improved. Optimization shows that Sil@PEI@C16-0.15 can best reduce aqueous surfactants to a residue around 10−10 mol/L; while Sil@PEI@C16-0.6 can reduce even small aqueous dyes to a residue below 10−10 mol/L, nearly 105-fold lower than that by Sil@PEI. The adsorbents are well recyclable. It is believed that in the case of dyes, the dense cetyl shell can isolate the PEI from the bulky water and thus suppress the competitive binding by water; while in the case of surfactants, the semiclosed cetyl shell can simultaneously meet electrostatic complement and hydrophobic complement to the surfactants.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
