Adsorption of phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions using functionalized SBA-15 as a nano-sorbent

Amino functional mesoporous silica SBA-15 materials have been prepared as efficient adsorbents for halophenols in wastewater. The organic–inorganic hybrid material was obtained using successive grafting procedures of SBA-15 silica with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (NH2–SBA-15). The comparison of adsorption of halophenols on untreated mesoporous SBA-15 and NH2–SBA-15 is studied. It is found that NH2–SBA-15 shows significant adsorption for halophenols. The samples were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT–IR). Batch adsorption studies have been carried out to study the effect of various parameters, such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dose and initial adsorbate concentration. The equilibrium adsorption data of halophenols onto NH2–SBA-15 were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. From the sorption studies it was observed that the uptake of 4-chlorophenol (CP) was higher than 4-bromophenol (BP) and 4-iodophenol (IP).

► Functionalized mesoporous silica was shown as efficient adsorbents for halophenols.
► The NH2–SBA-15 showed significant adsorption for halophenols.
► 4-Chlorophenol showed higher sorption behavior than 4-bromophenol and 4-iodophenol XRD.
► FT–IR, and SEM techniques were used to characterize the samples.