An ion-imprinted amino-functionalized silica gel sorbent prepared by hydrothermal assisted surface imprinting technique for selective removal of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution

► We develop a new Cd(II)-imprinted amino-functionalized silica gel sorbent. ► Hydrothermal-assisted heating enables increase of adsorption capacity. ► Langmuir adsorption model is more favorable than Freundlich adsorption model. ► Kinetic studies indicate that the adsorption follow a pseudo-second-order model. ► The adsorption process of Cd(II) is spontaneous and endothermic.