Performance of silica aerogels modified with amino functional groups in PB(II) and CD(II) removal from aqueous solutions

Hossein Faghihian,Heshmatollah Nourmoradi,Maryam Shokouhi

doi:10.2478/v10026-012-0059-4

Hossein Faghihian, Heshmatollah Nourmoradi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/v10026-012-0059-4

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Abstract

Performance of silica aerogels modified with amino functional groups in PB(II) and CD(II) removal from aqueous solutions The adsorption behavior of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in aqueous solutions on silica aerogels modified with amino propyl triethoxysilane was investigated as a function of pH, contact time, adsorbate concentration and adsorbent dose. It was found that maximum adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions occurs at pH 6.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. The optimum contact time to obtain equilibrium adsorption with the modified silica aerogel was experimentally found to be around 48h. Adsorption isotherms clearly indicated that the adsorption behavior of metals ions on the modified silica aerogels is fitted well with both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) on modified silica aerogel were found to be 45.45mg/g and 35.71mg/g, respectively. The results indicated that silica aerogels modified with amino functional groups can be used as an efficient adsorbent in the removal of metal ions such as Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions.

Highlights

Rapid development of industries such as metal electroplating, steel industries, mining operations, fertilizer industries, tanneries, batteries, ceramic industries, paper industries, painting operations and pesticides leads to the discharge of wastewaters containing heavy metals into the environment, in developing countries[1,2]
The main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of silica aerogels modified with amino Propyl Triethoxysilane in the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions
The results of the present study showed that silica aerogels modified with amino functional groups can be used as an efficient adsorbent in metal ions removal such as Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions

Summary

Introduction

Rapid development of industries such as metal electroplating, steel industries, mining operations, fertilizer industries, tanneries, batteries, ceramic industries, paper industries, painting operations and pesticides leads to the discharge of wastewaters containing heavy metals into the environment, in developing countries[1,2]. Due to the environmental and health risks created by Lead and Cadmium, the removal of these heavy metals from water and wastewater is essential. In this regard, several methods including chemical precipitation, ion exchange, electrochemical treatment, membrane separation, solvent extraction and adsorption have been applied[12,13]. Standeker et al reported that silica aerogels modified with mercapto functional groups show very high adsorption potential in removing Cu(II) and Hg(II) ions from aqueous solution. It could adsorb more than 99.0% of these metals in the pH ranges of 4–620. The main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of silica aerogels modified with amino Propyl Triethoxysilane (amino functional groups) in the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions

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