Synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties of nanostructured hybrid materials modified by boron and zirconium

Abstract

Abstract The adsorption properties of two new nanostructured hybrid materials containing B2O3 and ZrO2 were studied. The new organic-inorganic materials were synthesized via a sol-gel method. As a modifying agent, a quantity of 10 wt.% Zr(OPr)4 or B(OCH3)3 was added. The structure of the hybrid materials was investigated by means of (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), (atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Based on the obtained data, the most probable cross-linking mechanism for the derived gels was proposed. The characterization of texture parameters of both materials was carried out with the use of low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen. Adsorption of Cu(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions on both materials was investigated using multi-component solutions with different concentrations and acidity by means of the batch method. Kinetics of adsorption was also investigated. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze kinetic data. The adsorption was significantly affected by the pH value. Equilibrium data were fitted to linear Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models and maximum adsorption capacities were calculated.