Narrow Pore Size Distribution Research Articles

High-performance antibacterial tight ultrafiltration membrane constructed by co-deposition of dopamine and tobramycin for sustainable high-salinity textile wastewater management

High-salinity textile wastewater is a pressing environmental concern, urgently requiring the appropriate treatment. Sustainable management of high-salinity textile wastewater via fractionation of the existing dyes and inorganic salts (NaCl) using selective separation membranes is a key approach to address this detrimental concern. Herein, tight composite ultrafiltration membranes with impressive antibacterial function were constructed using one-step co-deposition of dopamine and tobramycin on the porous substrate to fractionate the dyes and NaCl. Triggered by ammonia persulfate, the polydopamine/tobramycin coating layer imparts the fabricated composite ultrafiltration membranes with tight surface structure and narrow pore size distribution, enabling effective dyes/salts fractionation. Specifically, the tight composite ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 3692 Da experienced a > 98.0 % rejection against various reactive dyes (molecular weight: <1000 Da) with nearly complete salt transmission (<0.8 % NaCl rejection), demonstrating an effective fractionation of dyes and salts. Additionally, the incorporated tobramycin as a broad-spectrum antibiotic endowed the tight composite ultrafiltration membrane with a sufficient inhibition efficiency (i.e., 100 %) against E. coli bacteria in a short-time contact (i.e., 3 min). Thereby, the tight composite ultrafiltration membrane constructed by fast co-deposition of dopamine and tobramycin established an unparalleled platform technology for sustainable resource recovery (dyes or salts) from high-salinity textile wastewater.

Alumina Incorporation in Self-Supported Poly(ethylenimine) Sorbents for Direct Air Capture.

Self-supported branched poly(ethylenimine) scaffolds with ordered macropores are synthesized with and without Al2O3 powder additive by cross-linking poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) with poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) at -196 °C. The scaffolds' CO2 uptake performance is compared with a conventional sorbent, i.e., PEI impregnated on an Al2O3 support. PEI scaffolds with Al2O3 additive show narrow pore size distribution and thinner pore walls than alumina-free materials, facilitating higher CO2 uptake at conditions relevant to direct air capture. The PEI scaffold containing 6.5 wt % Al2O3 had the highest CO2 uptake of 1.23 mmol/g of sorbent under 50% RH 400 ppm of CO2 conditions. In situ DRIFT spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption experiments show a significant CO2 uptake contribution via physisorption as well as carbamic acid formation, with lower CO2 binding energies in PEI scaffolds relative to conventional PEI sorbents, likely a result of a lower population of primary amines due to the amine cross-linking reactions during scaffold synthesis. The PEI scaffold containing 6.5 wt % Al2O3 is estimated to have the lowest desorption energy penalty under humid conditions, 4.6 GJ/tCO2, among the sorbents studied.

Engineering Dual CO2- and Photothermal-Responsive Membranes for Switchable Double Emulsion Separation.

Stimulus-responsive membranes demonstrate promising applications in switchable oil/water emulsion separations. However, they are unsuitable for the treatment of double emulsions like oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) and water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions. For efficient separation of these complicated emulsions, fine control over the wettability, response time, and aperture structure of the membrane is required. Herein, dual-coated fibers consisting of primary photothermal-responsive and secondary CO2-responsive coatings are prepared by two steps. Automated weaving of these fibers produces membranes with photothermal- and CO2-responsive characteristics and narrow pore size distributions. These membranes exhibit fast switching wettability between superhydrophilicity (under CO2 stimulation) and high hydrophobicity (under near-infrared stimulation), achieving on-demand separation of various O/W/O and W/O/W emulsions with separation efficiencies exceeding 99.6%. Two-dimensional low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and correlated spectra technique are used to clarify the underlying mechanism of switchable double emulsion separation. The approach can effectively address the challenges associated with the use of stimulus-responsive membranes for double emulsion separation and facilitate the industrial application of these membranes.

Synthesizing Hypercrosslinked Polymers with Deep Eutectic Solvents to Enhance CO2 /N2 Selectivity.

Hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) are widely used in ion exchange, water purification, and gas separation. However, HCP synthesis typically requires hazardous halogenated solvents e. g., dichloroethane, dichloromethane and chloroform which are toxic to human health and environment. Herein we hypothesize that the use of halogenated solvents in HCP synthesis can be overcome with deep eutectic solvents (DES) comprising metal halides-FeCl3 , ZnCl2 that can act as both the solvent hydrogen bond donor and catalyst for polymer crosslinking via Friedel Crafts alkylation. We validated our hypothesis by synthesizing HCPs in DESs via internal and external crosslinking strategies. [ChCl][ZnCl2 ]2 and [ChCl][FeCl3 ]2 was more suitable for internal and external hypercrosslinking, respectively. The specific surface areas of HCPs synthesized in DES were 20-60 % lower than those from halogenated solvents, but their CO2 /N2 selectivities were up to 453 % higher (CO2 /N2 selectivity of poly-α,α'-dichloro-p-xylene synthesized in [ChCl][ZnCl2 ]2 via internal crosslinking reached a value of 105). This was attributed to the narrower pore size distributions of HCPs synthesized in DESs.

Fabrication of Si3N4 ceramics substrates with high thermal conductivity by tape casting and gas pressure sintering

AbstractIn this paper, high thermal conductivity Si3N4 ceramics were successfully fabricated through exploring and optimizing the tape casting process. The impact of various organic additives on the rheological characteristics of Si3N4 slurry was explored, and the pore size distribution and microstructure of the green tapes at different solid loadings were investigated, as well as the microstructure of Si3N4 ceramics. Green tapes with a narrow pore size distribution, a small average pore size, and a high density of 1.88 g cm−3 were prepared by the investigation and optimization of the Si3N4 slurry formulation. After gas pressure sintering, Si3N4 ceramics with a density of 3.23 g cm−3, dimensions of 78 mm × 78 mm, and a thickness of 0.55 mm were obtained. The microstructure of the Si3N4 ceramics showed a bimodal distribution and a low content of glassy phases. The thermal conductivity of the Si3N4 ceramics was 100.5 W m−1 K−1, the flexural strength was 735 ± 24 MPa, and the fracture toughness was 7.17 MPa m1/2.

Design of Nickel-Containing Nanocomposites Based on Ordered Mesoporous Silica: Synthesis, Structure, and Methylene Blue Adsorption.

Mesoporous materials containing heteroelements have a huge potential for use as catalysts, exchangers, and adsorbents due to their tunable nanometer-sized pores and exceptionally large internal surfaces accessible to bulky organic molecules. In the present work, ordered mesoporous silica containing Ni atoms as active sites was synthesized by a new low-temperature method of condensation of silica precursors on a micellar template from aqueous solutions in the presence of nickel salt. The homogeneity of the resulting product was achieved by introducing ammonia and ammonium salt as a buffer to maintain a constant pH value. The obtained materials were characterized by nitrogen sorption, X-ray and neutron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Their morphology consists of polydisperse spherical particles 50-300 nm in size, with a hexagonally ordered channel structure, high specific surface area (ABET = 900-1200 m2/g), large pore volume (Vp = 0.70-0.90 cm3/g), average mesopore diameter of about 3 nm, and narrow pore size distribution. Adsorption tests for methylene blue show sorption capacities reaching 39-42 mg/g at alkaline pH. The advantages of producing nickel silicates by this method, in contrast to precipitation from silicon alkoxides, are the low cost of reagents, fire safety, room-temperature processing, and the absence of specific problems associated with the use of ethanol as a solvent, as well as the absence of the inevitable capture of organic matter in the precipitation process.

Narrowing the pore size distribution of a piperazine-based ultrathin polyamide film with the addition of 1,3-diamino-2-propanol (DAP)

Sharpening the pore size distribution is challenging but highly efficacious to boost the performance of polyamide (PA) membranes in nanofiltration (NF). Herein, a facile and applicable strategy for narrowing the pore size distribution of a piperazine (PIP)-based NF membrane is proposed by introducing 1,3-diamino-2-propanol (DAP) into the aqueous phase. The results show that the selective layer can be effectively remodeled via the incorporation of DAP. A thicker, rougher and more hydrophilic selective layer with a narrowed pore size distribution can be attained by adding 0.03 w/v% DAP to the 0.1 w/v% PIP solution, which exhibited a pure water permeance (PWP) of 20.7 L m−2 h−1·bar−1 and a MgSO4 rejection up to 97.4 %. This transformation can be attributed to the stronger polarity and higher reactivity of DAP compared to PIP. During the IP process modified by DAP, the strong polarity of DAP could result in a slower and more homogeneous diffusion of PIP into the organic phase through hydrogen interaction to facilitate a uniform interfacial polymerization reaction. Meanwhile, the higher reactivity of DAP could remedy the probably produced defects. This work provides a straightforward route for the regulation of NF membrane structure and performance.

Biomass-derived ultramicroporous carbon with narrow pore size distribution for record-high radon adsorption

Radon (Rn) is a radioactive noble gas and one of the primary culprits of lung cancer. Developing efficient adsorbents for Rn removal is of paramount importance, yet remains a daunting challenge due to the weak interaction between Rn and the adsorbent, particularly when low concentrations of Rn are present. Herein, a renewable biomass-derived carbon material consisting of rich ultramicropores was synthesized for record-high Rn adsorption under ambient condition. By meticulously selecting the carbonization precursor, chemical activator, and pyrolysis temperature, the optimized adsorbent, GC-700-2.4, exhibits a narrow pore distribution in the ultramicroporous range (<7 Å). The dynamic adsorption coefficient (Kd) of GC-700-2.4 is determined to be 9.51 L/g based on radon breakthrough experiments, which is twice the value of the commercial Rn adsorbent, coconut shell activated carbon (Kd = 4.65 L/g), and outperforms all other reported Rn adsorbents under comparable conditions. The superior Rn adsorption performance of GC-700-2.4 is attributed to the narrow ultramicropores in GC-700-2.4 that show enhanced confinement effect toward Rn. Consequently, GC-700-2.4 shows promising potential for practical applications as an efficient and cost-effective Rn adsorbent.

Selective hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in isopropanol over hydrotalcite-derived nickel-based catalyst

A series of hydrotalcite-derived nickel-based catalysts were synthesized by coprecipitation, drying, calcination and reduction, and used for the selective hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Ni1Zr1Al2-R, with specific surface area (SBET) of 145.6 m2, narrow pore size distribution of 7.1 nm, and small Ni0 particle size of 7.31 nm, showed 100 % furfural conversion and 94.5 % tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol selectivity under mild conditions (140 °C, 2 h). It was found that furfural was first hydrogenated to furfuryl alcohol, which was further hydrogenated to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. XRD and TEM showed that Ni0 (111) plane played an important role on the catalytic hydrogenation process. Al increased the specific surface area (SBET) and total acid sites of the catalyst, providing more possibilities for the catalyst to contact the substrate. The introduction of Zr improved the ratio of medium acid sites and decreased the size of metal nickel particles, improving the resistance to carbon deposition and allowing the structure and catalytic performance to remain stable after five recycles.

Tailoring the pore size distribution of nanofiltration membranes via surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths: Towards efficient molecular separation

The diffusion of amine monomer during interfacial polymerization (IP) directly affects the structure and properties of the polyamide (PA) separation layer. Surfactants can regulate the diffusion rate of monomers and change the microstructure of the PA layer. In this study, a PA nanofiltration (NF) membrane with the tailor-made pore size is fabricated by modulating the diffusion rate of 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane (Cyclen). Surfactants with different alkyl chain lengths are used to precisely regulate the diffusion rate of Cyclen monomer. The longer the alkyl chain length of the surfactant is, the faster the diffusion rate of the Cyclen monomer is, resulting in the formation of a PA layer with a narrow pore size distribution. The prepared composite membrane is qualified for on-demand desalting and antibiotic/salt separation performance by changing the length of the alkyl chain. For example, surfactants with short alkane chains (C4) endow the NF membranes with a high water permeance of 30.7 L−1 m−2h−1 bar−1 for tetracycline separation. Surfactants with long alkane chains (C12) endow the NF membranes with a high selectivity of 84.8 for tetracycline/NaCl separation. This study provides further evidence for surfactant-regulated IP reactions and offers new ideas for the tailor-made regulation of NF membrane properties.

Synthesis of hyperbranched polyethylene-graft-poly[3-ethyl-3-(methacryloyloxy)methyloxetane] via chain walking polymerization and ATRP for cationic photo-curing on membrane surface

Polyethylene is among the most widely-used coating materials due to the excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, the chemical inertness and poor solubility limit the application of polyethylene in coating. In this study, hyperbranched polyethylene-based graft copolymers containing functional oxetane groups (HBPE-g-POXMA) were synthesized via chain walking polymerization (CWP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in tandem. Macroinitiators were first synthesized via CWP of ethylene and trimethyl(undec-10-en-1-yloxy) silane following deprotection and esterification reaction. Subsequent ATRP of 3-ethyl-3-(methacryloyloxy) methyloxetane was performed to yield functional polyethylene with controlled molecular weight (MW), relatively narrow MW distribution, good solubility in organic solvents as well as pendant oxetane groups for photopolymerization. Finally, cationic photo-curing of HBPE-g-POXMA was conducted to build crosslinked polyethylene layers on polypropylene membrane surface. The composite membrane showed a narrow pore size distribution (0.03–0.63 μm) and an average pore size of merely 0.31 μm, which exhibited a retention ratio of over 90 % for different dyes. The strategy developed in this study could provide a synthetic route to hyperbranched polyethylene for functional coating via cationic photo-curing.

A bifunctional 3D porous MOF with potential for fluorescence sensing of picric acid and natural gas purification

A pillared-layer fluorescence metal-organic framework [Zn2(TCPP)(BPE), GXZ-1] has been synthesized by using the AIE ligand 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) pyrazine (TCPP) and 1,2-Bis(4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE). The GXZ-1 exhibited remarkable stability in both air and various solvents. Furthermore, fluorescence experiments demonstrated its potential as a fluorescence probe for the sensitive detection of picric acid (PA). Additionally, the activated GXZ-1 exhibited permanent porosity with a high BET surface area of 210.59 m2 g−1 and a narrow pore size distribution of 0.6 nm. These properties enable GXZ-1 ideally suitable for gas separation applications. Gas adsorption experiments revealed promising CO2/CH4 separation properties, with an IAST adsorption selectivity of 8.37 and 5.39 for equimolar CO2/CH4 gas mixtures at 273/298 K and 1 atm, respectively. In addition, GXZ-1 displayed outstanding chemical and thermal stability, further enhancing its potential for practical applications.

Mesoporous organosilicas with highly-content tyrosine framework as extractive phases for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aquatic media

BackgroundAttentions regarding ordered mesoporous silica materials (OMSs), with large specific surface areas and narrow pore size distribution, which are prepared via self-assembly techniques, have been raised in sorption, separation, and sample preparation. However, in order to extend and improve their applications, a functionalization step is required. Organic units can be anchored on the inner or outer surface as well as in the silica wall framework by co-condensation-, grafting-, and periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) preparation approaches. Apparently, by synthesizing PMO with extensive and flexible organic bridging groups within the mesoporous wall, an efficient extractive phase can be achieved. ResultsWe employed tyrosine amino acid to synthesize a PMO-based extractive phase. The FT-IR, 1H NMR, HR-ESI-MS, Low angle-XRD, TEM, FESEM, BET, and EDX-MAP analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of PMO within the salt-assisted templating method. A comprehensive study on sorption behavior of PMO was performed and its efficiency was evaluated against the grafting and co-condensation methods. Then, it was implemented to the pipette tip-micro solid phase extraction (PT-μ-SPE) of widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in water/wastewaters. Limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the range of 0.1–1.5 and 0.3–5 μg L−1, respectively. The calibration plots are linear in the 1–1000, 3–1000, 10–750, and 3–750 μg L−1, respectively. The intra-and inter-day precision at 50 and 200 μg L−1 levels are 2.9–7.1 % and 3.5–8%, while recoveries are between 84 and 111 %. SignificanceHigh-capacity tyrosine functionalized PMO with 2D hexagonal symmetry silica mesoporous structures found to be highly efficient extractive media. Despite the bulkiness and flexibility of the bridging group within the mesoporous wall, the synthesis condition was optimized in order to load more organic content in the PMO structure. The PMO performance was superior over organically modified ordered mesoporous silica materials prepared by the grafting and co-condensation methods.

Enhancing Adrenaline Sensing with Lanthanum Cuprate: A Promising Approach for a Novel Sensor

Electrochemical sensing is an excellent analytical means with multiple applications. Most of the electrochemical developments are based on the novel electrochemically active substrates. A lot of them have been adopted from other fields of material science. Every new class of functional materials has impacted on the development of electroanalytical chemistry. In this view, lanthanide cuprates, a well recognized high temperature superconducting materials were considered for adrenaline sensing. Obtained from corresponding oxides, a highly crystalline La2CuO4 found to be a suitable substrate for analytical method development. It inherited sponge-like morphology common for the most of the previously reported lanthanum cuprates with narrow pore size distribution at 400–700 nm. Excellent charge mobility and low resistivity provided a carbon paste electrode with improved linearity range and low limit of detection. Repeatability and stability of the developed sensor were at satisfactory level. Sensor functionality was verified on the real samples with excellent recovery rates. With this work we suggest further development of electroanalytical methods with application of lanthanide cuprates.

Soybean hulls activated carbon for metronidazole adsorption: Thermochemical conditions optimization for tailored and enhanced meso/microporosity

In this work, the use of soybean hulls as a residual biomass precursor for highly porous carbon materials through thermochemical treatments was assessed, aim to modify the surface chemistry and obtain enhanced chemistry and textural properties for the metronidazole (MTN) drug adsorption. Initially, the biomass was subjected to different chemical treatments followed by pyrolysis under fixed conditions. The modified carbon materials were evaluated in terms of residual surface charge, surface chemistry, and adsorption capacity. After determining the most appropriate chemical treatment, the optimized thermochemical conditions were investigated. Remarkable textural properties (Stotal= 1355.7 m2 g−1) of the activated carbon derived from dilute acid-alkali combined treatment (AC-CT) were achieved under the following conditions: T = 925 °C; t = 145 min and C= 0.3 mol L−1, which led to an increase in the adsorption capacity up to q= 51.25 mg g−1 (50% higher than the biochar). This increase in MTN adsorption performance is possibly related to the increase in the micropore area (SMICRO= 800.7 m2 g−1) and volume values, in addition to a tailored and narrow pore size distribution with an adequate size ratio to the MTN molecule (ØP/ØMTN= 2.3 – 2.6). Based on the results, it was identified that this tuned pore size distribution and the presence of surface oxygen groups provided adequate affinity to the MTN molecule due to H–bonds, π–interactions, and pore-filling effect retention mechanisms.

MgH2 nanoparticles confined in reduced graphene oxide pillared with organosilica: a novel type of hydrogen storage material.

Hydrogen is a promising alternative fuel that can push forward the energy transition because of its high energy density (142 MJ kg-1), variety of potential sources, low weight and low environmental impact, but its storage for automotive applications remains a formidable challenge. MgH2, with its high gravimetric and volumetric density, presents a compelling platform for hydrogen storage; however, its utilization is hindered by the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen uptake/release and high temperature operation. Herein we show that a novel layered heterostructure of reduced graphene oxide and organosilica with high specific surface area and narrow pore size distribution can serve as a scaffold to host MgH2 nanoparticles with a narrow diameter distribution around ∼2.5 nm and superior hydrogen storage properties to bulk MgH2. Desorption studies showed that hydrogen release starts at relatively low temperature, with a maximum at 348 °C and kinetics dependent on particle size. Reversibility tests demonstrated that the dehydrogenation kinetics and re-hydrogenation capacity of the system remains stable at 1.62 wt% over four cycles at 200 °C. Our results prove that MgH2 confinement in a nanoporous scaffold is an efficient way to constrain the size of the hydride particles, avoid aggregation and improve kinetics for hydrogen release and recharging.

Влияние температуры стадии формования и нейтрализации на свойства сферического носителя катализаторов риформинга, получаемого методом масляного формования

The work is devoted to the study of an oil-drop method for the production of spherical alumina used as a carrier for reforming catalysts with continuous regeneration. The mechanism of transformations occurring during spherical alumina forming by the oil-drop method from mixture of aluminum oxychloride and urotropin used as a gelling agent is proposed. The semi-quantitative composition of spheres after the neutralization stage is calculated on the basis of physicochemical methods of analysis. The possibility of obtaining spherical alumina with different physicochemical properties by varying temperature of the forming and neutralization stage is shown. Increasing the temperature of the neutralization stage leads to a narrower pore size distribution - the formation of more uniform pores with a smallercontribution of pores with a diameter greater than 170 angstroms. The strength of the obtained alumina is significantly affected: the strength increases several times with increasing the temperature of the neutralization stage.

‘Green’ fabrication of PVC ultrafiltration membranes with high-flux and improved hydrophilicity by in-situ interpenetration of hydrophilic crosslinking networks

High-flux polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes with hydrophilic interpenetrating networks were fabricated by a ‘green’ (without toxic initiator) in-situ method in this study. The interpenetration between the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molecules and the hydrophilic network was formed during the phase separation process, where the cross-linking was initialized by water in a solidification bath between siloxanes in aminopropyltrimethoxysilane-b-poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether synthesized in the PVC dissolution process. From the reconstruction of the PVC membrane, high hydrophilicity and porosity, and narrow pore size distribution have been achieved. As results, compared to the pristine membrane. the pure water flux was increased 17 times to 1177.4 L m−2 h−1, the flux recovery rate was increased by 15.9 %, and the strength was also increased slightly.

Study of sorption of platinum, palladium and rhodium ions on a carbon sorbent

The article is devoted to the sorption concentration of platinum (II,IV), palladium (II) and rhodium (III) ions from chloride media on a carbon synthetic sorbent. For the study of the sorption concentration of platinum group metals, the carbon synthetic sorbent Lewatit AF5 was chosen. This sorbent has high mechanical strength, high surface area, narrow pore size distribution, and low cost compared to silicate or polymer sorbents. Sorption concentration was carried out under static conditions from model chloride solutions. The concentration of analytes in the initial solutions ranged from 8 to 50 mmol/dm3. Equilibrium concentrations of metals in solutions were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The dependences of adsorption on contact time, free acidity and redox potential of the system were studied, and the limiting absorption values for each of the metals studied were determined. The study of the kinetic parameters of the sorption of Pt (IV), Pd (II) and Rh (III) ions was carried out from chloride solutions characterized by free acidity values of 0.01 mol/dm3. The time for establishing sorption equilibrium was determined, which was 4 hours for each of the ions. When studying the dependence of adsorption on free acidity and the oxidation-reduction potential of the system (ORP), it was revealed that with an increase in free acidity and redox potential, a decrease in sorption activity is observed, thus we can conclude that aquated complexes of platinum metals, in which metals present not in the highest oxidation state, involved in the sorption process. Processing of experimental data showed the applicability of the linear equation of the Langmuir isotherm for the description of the adsorption process, the limiting adsorption values were calculated, using which the sorption capacity of the sorbent was assessed. The sorption capacity for Pt (II, IV), Pd (II) and Rh (III) was 1.24 mmol/g; 1.16 mmol/g and 0.57 mmol/g, respectively. High values of sorption capacity, as well as a fairly short time to achieve sorption equilibrium without the use of means for the acceleration of the process, in combination with the mechanical characteristics of the sorbent, allow us to conclude that the Lewatit AF5 sorbent is promising for the concentration of platinum group metals from hydrochloric acid solutions.

Ordered mesoporous silicas for potential applications in solid vaccine formulations

In an effort to develop efficient vaccine formulations, the use of ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as an antigen carrier has been investigated. SBA-15 has required properties such as high surface area and pore volume, including narrow pore size distribution to protect antigens inside its matrix. This study aimed to examine the impact of solvent removal methods, specifically freeze-drying and evaporation on the intrinsic properties of an immunogenic complex. The immunogenic complexes, synthesized and incorporated with BSA, were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Small Angle X-ray Scattering measurements revealed the characteristic reflections associated to pure SBA-15, indicating the preservation of the silica mesostructured following BSA incorporation and the formation of BSA aggregates within the macropore region. Nitrogen Adsorption Isotherm measurements demonstrated a decrease in surface area and pore volume for all samples, indicating that the BSA was incorporated into the SBA-15 matrix. Fluorescence spectroscopy evidenced that the tryptophan residues in BSA inside SBA-15 or in solution displayed similar spectra, showing the preservation of the aromatic residues’ environment. The Circular Dichroism spectra of BSA in both conditions suggest the preservation of its native secondary structure after the encapsulation process. The immunogenic analysis with the detection of anti-BSA IgG did not give any significant difference between the non-dried, freeze-dried or evaporated groups. However, all groups containing BSA and SBA-15 showed results almost three times higher than the groups with pure BSA (control group). These facts indicate that none of the BSA incorporation methods interfered with the immunogenicity of the complex. In particular, the freeze-dried process is regularly used in the pharmaceutical industry, therefore its adequacy to produce immunogenic complexes was proved Furthermore, the results showed that SBA-15 increased the immunogenic activity of BSA.