Synthesis of functionalized silica gel with poly(diethylenetriamine bis(methylene phosphonic acid)) and its adsorption properties of transition metal ions

A novel functionalized silica gel with poly(diethylenetriamine bis(methylene phosphonic acid)) (SH–DETA–PDBMPA) was synthesized in order to improve the adsorption for transition metal ions from aqueous solutions. The material was characterized using infrared spectra (IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurement, porous analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and 29Si Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (29Si MAS NMR). The application of this material in adsorption of transition metal ions revealed that SH–DETA–PDBMPA had excellent adsorption amount and high selectivity for Au(III), which provided a novel material for adsorbing this specious metal ions from aqueous solutions.

► A novel functionalized silica gel with poly(diethylenetriamine bis(methylene phosphonic acid)) (SH–DETA–PDBMPA) was synthesized.
► The material was characterized using IR, XRD, SEM, BET surface area measurement, porous analysis, TG and 29Si MAS-NMR.
► SH–DETA–PDBMPA had excellent adsorption amount and high adsorption selectivity for Au(III from aqueous solutions.