Triamino-anchored KCC-1: A novel and promising adsorbent for fast and highly effective aqueous CrVI removal

Abstract

Triamino-anchored monodispersed fibrous silica nanospheres (Triamino-KCC-1) was successfully fabricated, for the first time, via anchoring 3-[2-(2 Aminoethylamino) ethylamino] propyltrimethoxysilane by a facile and effective post-grafting approach. Triamino-KCC-1 with fibrous silica nanosphere morphology showed large pore volume (1.15 m3 g–1) and surface area (∼536 m2 g−1) containing the micro-mesostructured silica fibers. The adsorption behaviors of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) from aqueous media on the Triamino-KCC-1 adsorbent were monitored as a function of initial pH solution, adsorbent dose, initial CrVI concentration, and contact time. The Triamino-KCC-1, as a novel functionalized fibrous silica adsorbent, had high adsorption efficiency at acidic pH and the adsorption rate was fast. The adsorption data for Triamino-KCC-1 was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model with a calculated maximum uptake capacity of ∼316 mg g−1, which was in reasonable agreement with experimental adsorption capacity (∼317 mg g−1). According to the results obtained by applying isotherm and kinetic parameters, we can conclude that the most active sites of Triamino-KCC-1 are easily accessible. The results obtained in the present study indicate that it is of great practical and research interest to develop functionalized fibrous silica-based adsorbents for effective heavy metals removal.