Novel optical composite material for efficient vanadium(III) capturing from wastewater

Abstract

The high-efficient detection and recovery of vanadium (V(III)) using organic ligand embedded inorganic-organic mesoporous composite material (MeCM) was studied in this work. After 2‑methyl‑8‑quinolinol immobilization onto the porous silica, the MeCM was confirmed the high surface area, large pore diameters and ordered morphological homogeneity. The MeCM was exhibited fast and specific signal response to V(III) ion, and the color was observed by naked-eye based on the charge-transfer stable complexation mechanism. The MeCM was influenced by the solution pH and pH 3.50 was selected for the highest detection and adsorption ability. The limit of detection was 0.27 μg/L, which was remarkably low as defined. The MeCM was also exhibited comparatively high kinetic performances as the equilibrium adsorption was observer within short contact time. The adsorption data were fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model as expected from the MeCM morphology. The maximum capacity was found to be 192.16 mg/g with the monolayer adsorption coverage. The presence of diverse metal ion was not affected significantly during the detection and adsorption operations. The V(III) ion desorbed from the MeCM using 0.15 M HCl and then simultaneously regenerated into the initial functionality for next operation as revealed from the several cycles reuses study. Therefore, the proposed MeCM is allowed to the sensitive, selective, easy to use, cost-effective, high efficiency, fast kinetics and stable capturing of V(III) ion even in the presence of diverse competing ion. In addition, there was no more secondary sludge production due to the reusability and makes it a potential candidate in better replacement technology for capturing V(III) ion in a wide range of practical purposes.