Removal of Heavy Metals in Water by Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Materials: A Review

Abstract

This paper reviews the emerging applications of mesoporous silica materials to be as adsorbents for heavy metals removal from the wastewater. Functionalization of the ordered mesoporous silica with organic or hybrid function groups provides new opportunities for fine-tuning the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of these novel materials. This has led to an interest in application of these materials as effective and low-cost adsorbents for removal of heavy metals, such as Pb (II), Cu (II), Hg(II), Cr (III), Cd (II) and Ni (II).