Abstract
This paper highlights the synthesis of a one-dimensional (1D) hierarchical material mesosilica/palygorskite (Pal) composite and evaluates its adsorption performance for anionic dye methyl orange (MO) in comparison with Pal and Mobile crystalline material-41 (MCM-41). The Mesosilica/Pal composite is consisted of mesosilica coated Pal nanorods and prepared through a dual template approach using cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and Pal as soft and hard templates, respectively. The composition and structure of the resultant material was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmissionelectron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, small-angle X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), and zeta potential measurement. Adsorption experiments were carried out with different absorbents at different contact times and pH levels. Compared with Pal and MCM-41, the mesosilica/Pal composite exhibited the best efficiency for MO adsorption. Its adsorption ratio is as high as 70.4%. Its adsorption equilibrium time is as short as 30 min. Results testify that the MO retention is promoted for the micro-mesoporous hierarchical structure and positive surface charge electrostatic interactions of the mesosilica/Pal composite. The regenerability of the mesosilica/Pal composite absorbent was also assessed. 1D morphology makes it facile to separate from aqueous solutions. It can be effortlessly recovered and reused for up to nine cycles.
Highlights
The colored wastewater generated from the extensive use of dyes has produced toxicological problems and has become a major environmental concern [1]
An amount of 50 mg of the mesosilica/Pal composite was added to 20 mL methyl orange (MO) solutions (200 mg·L−1 ) in 100 mL conical flasks
The conical flasks were placed at room temperature and gently stirred for a specific time period at the speed of
Summary
The colored wastewater generated from the extensive use of dyes has produced toxicological problems and has become a major environmental concern [1]. Considerable efforts have been devoted to the preparation of mesoporous silica-based (mesosilica) adsorbents because of their high surface area, ordered pore structure, and tunable pore diameters [3,4,5]. Materials 2018, 11, 164 the nanoscale, at which adsorbents possess considerably larger surface areas and higher adsorption capacities [6]. One-dimensional (1D) nano-materials, such as nanofibers, nanorods, and nanotubes, have been extensively studied for environmental applications owing to their advanced properties such as large surface to volume ratio, high efficiency, and appreciable physical and chemical properties, etc. 1D nano-material absorbents possess a maximum surface area owing to their nanosize diameter with a high surface-to-volume ratio [11]. Aside from promoting dye retention with mesoporous channels, mesosilica adsorbents with 1D morphology can solve the recovery problem in liquid samples
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