Post-grafting Method Research Articles

Evaluation of CO2 storage properties and mobility through NMR technique in post-grafting synthetized organically functionalized porous silica

Functionalized porous silica materials were synthesized in alkaline conditions by post-grafting method using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as templating agent, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silica precursors and trialkoxysilanes functionalised with different organic groups. Textural features, halfway between microporosity and mesoporosity, combined with the surface physico-chemical ones related to various organic groups, determined different CO2 storage properties highlighting a strong interaction with the precursor 3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. NMR spectroscopy also showed how physisorption is the mainstream mechanism for CO2 adsorption in all the sorbents, except for the aforementioned organic group in which an important chemisorption contribution occurs. Diffusion and molecular mobility analysis revealed that at least two species coexist within the micro-/meso-pores of the sorbents, namely, CO2 molecules powerfully interacting with the pore surface (pore-surface CO2) and “bulk-like” CO2 filling the central region of the pores. Furthermore, the post functionalization suppresses the diffusion of CO2 molecules through the pore channels with all the functionalized materials exhibiting a single self-diffusion coefficient. On the other side, D// strictly depends on the average pore size of the sorbent.

Enhancing the uranium (VI) adsorption performance of phosphoric acid functionalized porous silica by controlled introduction of phosphoric acid group

The post-grafting of porous silica with organic group is a common method for the synthesis of organo-functionalized silica adsorbent. However, this method usually produces adsorbents with limited adsorption performances due to the pore blocking caused by the irregular introduction of organic group. In this work, we report the controllable synthesis of phosphoric acid functionalized porous silica adsorbent based on the co-condensation method for uranium (VI) adsorptive removal with enhanced adsorption performance. Characterizations of the obtained silica verify its porous structure and confirm the homogeneous distribution of phosphoric acid groups inside the silica. This silica is able to efficiently remove 98 % of uranium from a 100 mg/L uranium (VI) solution within 10 min at a dosage of 0.6 g/L and the maximum uranium (VI) adsorption amount reaches 509 mg/g. Both adsorption capacity and adsorption rate of this silica are superior than that of the silica synthesized based on conventional post-grafting method. Moreover, this silica can be reused for five times with uranium (VI) removal efficiency above 95 % and it is well applied in adsorption column for dynamically adsorptive removal of uranium (VI) from real nuclear wastewater. Mechanism-related investigations reveal that uranium (VI) adsorption on this silica proceeds by effective ion exchange of uranium (VI) ion with either phosphoric acid or silanol group and the formation of uranyl phosphonate or uranyl silicate complex. This work provides a feasible strategy to synthesize functionalized porous silica without significant pore blocking, and demonstrates the enhancement effect of regulating surface adsorption groups on the adsorption performances of porous silica. Besides, this work offers a promising adsorbent for efficient treatment of uranium-containing nuclear wastewater and reveals the mechanism of uranium adsorption on those silica adsorbent containing phosphoric acid, thiol or thioether group.

A incorporation of metal into worm-like mesoporous silica materials for selective adsorption of MB in dyestuff

Worm-like mesoporous silica was synthesized using hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as the template agent and sodium metasilicate as the silicon source (hereinafter referred to as HECMS). Different types of metal-doped adsorbents (namely Zr-HECMS-P, Fe-HECMS-P, and Al-HECMS-P) were prepared using the post-grafting method. The three adsorbents were used for the selective adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from an MB/methylene orange (MO) solution. Results showed that under acidic conditions, Fe-HECMS-P exhibited simultaneous adsorption of MB and MO, whereas Zr-HECMS-P and Al-HECMS-P preferably adsorbed MB. Zr-HECMS was determined to be the best adsorbent based on the evaluation results of the selective-adsorption effect of MB in different adsorption environments. Furthermore, different zirconium-silicon molar ratio samples were synthesized (The name is designated as Zr(0.01)-HECMS-P, Zr(0.02)-HECMS-P and Zr(0.04)-HECMS-P.). Results revealed that at pH = 3 and an initial MB concentration of 25 mg/L, Zr(0.01)-HECMS-P exhibited the best selective-adsorption performance for MB, reaching adsorption equilibrium in 2 h with a maximum removal rate of 97.8 %. The adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption mechanism involved coordination and electrostatic action. In a simple binary system (MB + MO), the Zr(0.01)-HECMS-P adsorbent exhibited good selectivity for the MB dye. Finally, after five cycles of regeneration, the adsorption performance of Zr(0.01)-HECMS-P remains stable.

Physicochemical and textural properties of amino-functionalised mesoporous silica nanomaterials from different silica sources

A series of MCM-41 nanomaterials that could serve various scientific applications was synthesised from two silica sources, tetraethyl ortho silicate and sodium silicate. Calcination and solvent extraction were employed as surfactant removal methods, while surface functionalisation was done via co-condensation and post-grafting methods. The synthesised nanomaterials were characterised, and their physicochemical properties were compared using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the surfactant removal and surface functionalisation methods affected the synthesised nanomaterials' 2θ values, d-spacing, and unit cell parameters. However, surfactant removal methods did not affect the morphology of amino-functionalised nanomaterials. Mesoporous silica nanomaterials of specific surface areas (884.0–17.1 m2/g), pore volumes (1.0–0.1 cm3/g), pore size diameters (7.2–1.5 nm), and less orderly mesoporous structures were produced with co-condensation and amino functionalisation using both silica sources. These methods can produce mesoporous silica nanostructures with different morphologies for wastewater remediation, catalysis, bio-catalysis, drug delivery, CO2 capture, indoor air cleaning, bioanalytical sample preparation, and pervaporation membrane improvement.

Functionalization of SBA-15 mesoporous silica for highly efficient adsorption of glutathione: Characterization and modeling studies

BackgroundPristine SBA-15 and amine or thiol-functionalized SBA-15 materials were synthesized, characterized, and highlighted by studying the glutathione (GSH) adsorption process in aqueous solutions. MethodsIn this study, SBA-15 mesoporous materials were functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) and (3-mercaptopropyl)triethoxysilane (MPTES) in order to introduce amine and thiol groups onto the surface by using a post-grafting method, respectively. For comparison, the SBA-15-based materials were used as adsorbents to further investigate the adsorption behaviour of GSH under various experimental conditions. Significant findingsTo examine the underlying mechanism of the adsorption process, the kinetics of the GSH adsorption onto SBA-15-based adsorbents were fitted using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Aharoni models. Adsorption isotherms showed that the Freundlich isotherm model was the most appropriate to simulate the adsorption of GSH molecules onto SBA-15-NH2 adsorbent and the Langmuir isotherm model for the two other substrates. In addition, the adsorption thermodynamics confirmed the exothermic behaviour of GSH adsorption process onto the SBA-15-SH adsorbent. In contrast, the capture of GSH molecules by the SBA-15-OH and SBA-15-NH2 adsorbents follows an endothermic reaction process. Finally, the adsorption nature of GSH onto SBA-15 adsorbents is classified as physisorption.

Photodegradation of Rhodamine B using gallium hybrids as an efficient photocatalyst.

Keeping in view the toxicity of the Rhodamine B, the present study is designed to remediate the water loaded with toxic dyes using gallium oxide and gallium hybrids as photocatalyst. Precipitation coupled with sonochemical method is adopted for the synthesis of gallium oxide while the post grafting method is adopted for the synthesis of gallium hybrids with the indole and its derivatives. FTIR spectra showed the characteristic absorption bands of gallium oxide and gallium hybrids at 400-700cm-1 and 1400-1600cm-1. SEM and XRD showed the micro-sized rectangular rod-shaped gallium oxide with rhombohedral geometry. The average crystallite size of gallium hybrids was 26-32nm calculated using the Debye Scherrer and Williamson-Hal models. The BET isotherm of gallium hybrids revealed the adsorption type-IV and hysteresis loop (H3) proposing multilayer and mesoporous structures with increase in surface area from 26 m2/g of gallium oxide to 31 m2/g of gallium-indole, 35 m2/g of gallium-methyl indole, and 37 m2/g of gallium-carboxylic indole. XPS showed the presence of gallium (3-14%), oxygen (28-32%), nitrogen (23-46%), and carbon (9-46%). The gallium oxide and gallium hybrids showed 47-72% optimum degradation of Rhodamine B under 2h of illumination at pH 7 and 0.03mg/L. The degradation rate followed a Langmuir-Hinshelwood model with R2 > 0.9.

Hydrogen storage and mobility determined by NMR to various organically functionalized porous silica synthetized by using the post-grafting method

The results of this study will help in guiding the future design of low-cost and highly performing functionalized mesoporous silica using cationic surfactants as directing agents. Indeed, by properly tuning surface interactions and the textural characteristics, the overall efficiency of H2 capture processes could be improved. Among different synthetized samples, the experimental results show the better interaction with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane precursor. Furthermore, an NMR investigation aiming at clarifying the internal arrangement and diffusion properties of hydrogen molecules inside functionalized porous silica materials has been performed. The NMR spectral analysis and the T1 relaxation times indicated two different “populations” for H2 sorbate due to the molecules adsorbed in mesopores and in micropores. For the first time, the H2 self-diffusion coefficient in functionalized silica has been experimentally measured by pulsed field gradient NMR. The spin-echo decay revealed two different diffusion mechanisms coexist in the functionalized mesoporous silica, except for the material functionalized with iodopropyl groups, which shows a single diffusion coefficient.

Effect of preparation method on active sites variation for catalytic oxidation of toluene over Pt/MCM-48

Toluene oxidation behavior has been investigated on a series of catalysts with Pt supported on MCM-48 that has a large specific surface area & easy-transported three-dimensional channels prepared by four different methods. It was found that various introduction ways of Pt have a great influence on both Pt content and state, resulting in a difference in catalytic oxidation performance. Pt/M48-PG prepared via the post-grafting method possesses both the highest Pt content (0.83 wt%) and active species of Pt0 & surface labile oxygen (accounting for 46% and 55%, respectively), resulting in the lowest T90 (155 °C) and the highest TOF (7.92 ×10−3·s−1). Characterization results showed that the amine functional groups could be successfully grafted onto the support's surface, which is beneficial for the binding of platinum precursor with support, leading to the high actual loading efficiency and dispersion of Pt, both of which contribute to retaining more Pt0 and surface labile oxygen active species.

Thymol-Functionalized Silica Nanomaterials Prepared by Post-Grafting Method: Preparation, Characterization, Bactericidal Activity and Mechanism Research

In this study, thymol was covalently connected to mesoporous silica nanomaterial by a post-grafting method to obtain a stable antibacterial system, thus overcoming the volatilization of thymol, prolonging the effective time of antibacterial action, and enhancing the antibacterial efficiency of thymol. It was proposed for the first time that such a synthetic route be adopted to synthesize silica-based mesoporous/essential oil antibacterial materials. The post-grafting method could be capable of retaining the mesoporous original structure, which could effectively avoid the porosity reduction and disordered products caused by condensation. Among them, the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of functionalized MCM-41 (silica support) for E. coli and S. aureus were 0.3 mg mL−1 and 0.4 mg mL−1, which were equivalent to 3/4 and 4/5 of free thymol (0.4 mg mL−1 and 0.5 mg mL−1), respectively. Meanwhile, the MBC of functionalized SBA-15 (silica support) for E. coli and S. aureus were both 0.2 mg mL−1, which also reduced the MBC of free thymol. These results revealed thymol-functionalized mesoporous silica nanomaterial could efficiently improve the bactericidal activities of the organic component. Finally, the inhibition mechanism of the post-grafting strategy was also discussed, which referred to how the antibacterial material directly acts on the cell membrane, resulting in cell inactivation.

Amino functionalized SBA-15 Loaded Rh Catalyst for Asymmetric Hydroformylation of Styrene

A recoverable Rh/N-SBA-15 heterogeneous catalyst for asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene was prepared by post grafting method. XRD, TG, 29Si MAS NMR and ICP characterization, revealed that the introduction of amino silane and RhCl3 had no adverse influence on the ordered mesoporous structure of the support. The Rh/N-SBA-15 catalyst was proved to be highly efficacious and stable for asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene. The experimental results demonstrated that amino silane improved the loading capacity of SBA-15 to RhCl3, and thereby improved its catalytic performance. The high efficiency and recyclability of Rh/N-SBA-15 catalyst demonstrated its great potential for application in asymmetric hydroformylation reactions.

Restrictive Regulation of Ionic Liquid Quaternary Ammonium Salt in SBA-15 Pore Channel for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Conversion.

Herein, the synthesis of a new type of catalyst, SBA-M (Schiff complex of different metal types grafted on SBA-15) based on a quaternization reaction, is described. Various amounts of ionic liquid were grafted into the pore channels of SBA-15 using the post-grafting method, which allowed the ionic liquid to be grafted into the pore channels restrictively. Notably, over six cycles, SBA-Mn (0.2) has been shown to maintain its catalytic activity and stability. In addition, a reaction mechanism for the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides based on density-functional theory is proposed. The cycloaddition reaction of CO2 and epoxides is an efficient way of carbon fixation. It is demonstrated that the metal coordinated with the oxygen atom of the epoxides and that a halogen attacked the carbon of epoxides. Moreover, theoretical calculations and synthesis strategy provide a new approach for CO2 conversion.

Application of a novel surface modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles as chemical demulsifiers for breaking water-in-crude oil emulsion

Produced crude oil is frequently in the form of W/O emulsion. Chemical demulsification is a commonly method to separate water in crude oil emulsion. However, there is a need to enhance this technique to become environmental friendly and economically competitive. Therefore, in this research, using nanotechnology led to reducing the amount of conventional demulsifier consumption in the demulsification process and unexpectedly greatly improving the demulsification efficiency of conventional demulsifier. Thus, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were functionalized with different organic moieties of APTES (aminopropyl triethoxysilan) and PhTES (phenyltriethoxysilane) using a post-grafting method to improve the performance of conventional chemical demulsifier. The prepared mesoporous silica nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, XRD, FT-IR, DLS and BET. Furthermore, the demulsification performance of nanodemulsifiers was evaluated by bottle test. Moreover, the effect of nanodemulsifier dosages, salt and temperature on DE (demulsification efficiency) was studied. The results demonstrate all parameters have an impact on the stability of W/O emulsion and MSN-APTES has the DE to a value of 90% in optimum concentration in the present of a commercial demulsifier. Simultaneous use of APTES functionalized MSNs and a conventional demulsifier reduces the IFT at the water-crude oil interface.

PH-Sensitive Polyacrylic Acid-Gated Mesoporous Silica Nanocarrier Incorporated with Calcium Ions for Controlled Drug Release

In this work, polyacrylic acid-functionalized MCM-41 was synthesized, which was made to interact with calcium ions, in order to realize enhanced pH-responsive nanocarriers for sustained drug release. First, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were prepared by the sol-gel method. Afterward, a (3-trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) modified surface was prepared by using the post-grafting method, and then the polymerization of the acrylic acid was performed. After adding a calcium chloride solution, polyacrylic acid-functionalized MSNs with calcium-carboxyl ionic bonds in the polymeric layer, which can prevent the cargo from leaking out of the mesopore, were prepared. The structure and morphology of the modified nanoparticles (PAA-MSNs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, etc. The controlled release of guest molecules was studied by using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The drug molecule-incorporated nanoparticles showed different releasing rates under different pH conditions. It is considered that our current materials have the potential as pH-responsive nanocarriers in the field of medical treatment.

Acid–base bifunctional catalysis by a heteropolyacid and amines on the polyetheretherketone fiber for cleaner acceleration of the one-pot tandem reactions

The development of highly efficient, economical and environmentally friendly catalytic systems is of great significance from the green chemistry point of view. In this paper, we presented a succinct approach to create a heterogeneous acid–base bifunctional catalyst for one-pot tandem reaction from the commercially available textile fiber. The ultra-high strength textile fiber polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was functionalized by a post-grafting method to combine two antagonistic active functions in a synergistic catalyst, and the resulting fiber samples were characterized in detail by morphology, mechanical properties, elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, and further revealed that the amines and the heteropolyacid were immobilized by acid–base interactions in the PEEK surface layer with sufficient stability. Moreover, the acid–base bifunctional catalyst can be successfully applied in the acceleration of the one-pot tandem deacetalization–Knoevenagel reactions with high-efficiency (lower catalyst dosage 0.3 mol%, higher product yields 81–92%), whereas the homogeneous catalysts were unable to initiate the reaction due to their mutual neutralization in solution, and the catalytic mechanism was elucidated by comparison. Furthermore, the fibrous catalyst could maintain its activities more than 10 cycles with a simple post-processing, and the mediated system was capable of enlarging to the gram-scale, which are envisaged for industrial operations and cleaner productions.

A Methyl-Modified Silica Layer Supported on Porous Ceramic Membranes for the Enhanced Separation of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether from Aqueous Solution.

As a kind of volatile organic compound (VOC), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is hazardous to human health and destructive to the environment if not handled properly. MTBE should be removed before the release of wastewater. The present work supported the methyl-modified silica layer (MSL) on porous α-Al2O3 ceramic membranes with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) as a precursor and pre-synthesized mesoporous silica microspheres as dopants by the sol-gel reaction and dip-coating method. MTMS is an environmentally friendly agent compared to fluorinated alkylsilane. The MSL-supported Al2O3 ceramic membranes were used for MTBE/water separation by pervaporation. The NMR spectra revealed that MTMS evolves gradually from an oligomer to a highly cross-linked methyl-modified silica species. Methyl-modified silica species and pre-synthesized mesoporous silica microspheres combine into hydrophobic mesoporous MSL. MSL makes the α-Al2O3 ceramic membranes transfer from amphiphilic to hydrophobic and oleophilic. The MSL-supported α-Al2O3 ceramic membranes (MSL-10) exhibit an MTBE/water separation factor of 27.1 and a total flux of 0.448 kg m−2 h−1, which are considerably higher than those of previously reported membranes that are modified by other alkylsilanes via the post-grafting method. The mesopores within the MSL provide a pathway for the transport of MTBE molecules across the membranes. The presence of methyl groups on the external and inner surface is responsible for the favorable separation performance and the outstanding long-term stability of the MSL-supported porous α-Al2O3 ceramic membranes.

Amino-functionalization of hydroxylated SBA-15 for enhanced uranium adsorption from seawater

Uranium extraction from seawater is a strategic deployment to the sustainable development of nuclear energy. However, challenges exist in uranium enrichment because of the extremely low U(VI) concentration and the complexity of seawater. Herein, a novel NH2-functionalized mesoporous hydroxylated SBA-15 (NH2-H-SBA-15), synthesized via post-grafting method was used as the adsorbent in uranium adsorption field. The adsorbent was prepared by reacting between aminosilane and the surface silanol groups of hydroxylated SBA-15. It shows stable adsorption properties in a wider applicable pH range (6–8) because amino groups have better adaptability both in weakly acidic and alkaline environment. Moreover, adsorption kinetic data better fitted pseudo-second-order model, which indicated that the uranium adsorption process belongs to chemical adsorption. Isothermal data better followed the Langmuir model, suggesting a monolayer coverage adsorption mode. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of the NH2-H-SBA-15 is approximatively 115 mg·g−1 within 7 days at pH = 8.1 and 25 °C in uranium-spiked natural seawater. Therefore, the NH2-H-SBA-15 shows the excellent selectivity of uranium in the natural seawater (αU/M > 1) which provides a promising prospect in extracting uranium from seawater.

Adsorption Behavior of Lead Ions from Wastewater on Pristine and Aminopropyl-Modified Blast Furnace Slag

The potential possibility of blast furnace slag as a low-cost adsorbent to remove lead ions from wastewater was investigated in detail in the present work. Both single factor experiment and orthogonal experiment were performed to reveal the effect of pH, adsorption temperature, contact time and initial concentration of lead ions on the adsorption performance of pristine slag. In order to make clear the correlation between the lead ion adsorption performance and the structure of slag, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was conducted to reveal the network structure and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to calculate the nonbridging oxygen in the network-forming tetrahedra. For the purpose of improving the adsorption performance, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was adopted to modify the slag via post-grafting method. The results show that the slag is predominately composed of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO and MgO, exhibiting an amorphous network structure based on SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra. The conditions for adsorption can be optimized as follows: a pH of 7, an adsorption temperature of 60 °C, a contact time of 120 min and an initial lead ion concentration of 40 mg·L−1. Under the optimal conditions, a removal rate of 99.98% and an adsorption capacity of 49.99 mg·g−1 are obtained for the pristine slag. The adsorption complies with the Langmuir model thermodynamically and conforms to the pseudo-second order model kinetically. It is noted that aminopropyl-modification has considerably enhanced the removal rate of lead ions from 20.71 to 64.32% and the adsorption capacity from 29.01 to 96.48 mg·g−1 since amino groups (-NH2) are more inclined to form a complex with lead ions than hydroxyl groups due to the higher nucleophilicity of amino groups than that of hydroxyl groups. However, it is necessary to develop more low-cost modification agents in the future work.

Titanium dioxide‐functionalized dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for highly selective isolation of phosphoproteins

Selective isolation of phosphoproteins is of great significance in biological applications. Herein, titanium dioxide-functionalized dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles are prepared via a post-grafting method for selective capture of phosphoproteins. The fabricated nanoparticles possess a unique central-radial pore structure with a surface area of 666.66 m2 /g and a pore size of 22.2nm. The high-binding affinity of TiO2 with the phosphate groups facilitates the selective adsorption of phosphoproteins. Moreover, the open central-radial pore structure endows the dendritic mesoporous nanoparticles with better adsorption performance toward phosphoproteins with respect to the commercial titanium dioxide nanoparticles and titanium dioxide-functionalized conventional mesoporous silica nanoparticles by providing more accessible affinity sites. At pH 2, an adsorption capacity of 157.2mg/g is derived for β-casein. The feasibility of the as-prepared dendritic material in real biological sample assay is demonstrated by the selective isolation of phosphoproteins from defatted milk, as illustrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assay.

Comparison of Structure and Adsorption Properties of Mesoporous Silica Functionalized with Aminopropyl Groups by the Co-Condensation and the Post Grafting Methods.

The adsorptive potential has been evaluated for the aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica materials obtained by co-condensation and post grafting methods. Nitrogen sorption, small angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS) demonstrated high surface area and well-ordered hexagonal pore structure suitable for applications as adsorbents of metals from waste waters. A comparison of Cr(VI) adsorption properties of the materials prepared by different functionalization methods has been performed. The obtained results demonstrated the adsorption capacity due to the affinity of the chromium ions to the amino groups, and showed that co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) resulted in higher metal sorption capacity of the materials compared to post-synthesis grafting of aminopropyl groups onto the mesoporous silica particles.

Selective synthesis of dioxolane biofuel additive via acetalization of glycerol and furfural enhanced by MCM-41-alanine bifunctional catalyst

Highly active and selective acetalization catalyst, viz. alanine functionalized MCM-41 (MCM-41-16Alanine), synthesized using post-grafting method is reported. The mesoporous solid is first reacted with (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane (CPTES) before alanine is covalently bonded onto the hybrid support as confirmed by TGA/DTG, IR and UV-Raman spectroscopy analyses. Furthermore, the meso-ordered structure of MCM-41 is also retained after surface modification as revealed by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The resulting bifunctional catalyst bearing both acidity and basicity exhibits good catalytic performance in the acetalization of glycerol with furfural reaction where 90% conversion with 78% selective to (2-(furan-2-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanol-a valuable dioxolane biofuel additive-are achieved under optimized reaction conditions. Furthermore, the excellent catalytic performance of MCM-41-16Alanine is demonstrated when it is compared to other reported catalysts thanks to its large surface area, acid-base bifunctionality and mesopore confinement that induce synergistic effects. The catalyst also displays high catalyst reusability and no significant deterioration in catalytic activity is shown after six consecutive runs, thus offering a green pathway for synthesizing dioxolane biofuel additive with high selectivity.