Pb (II) removal from aqueous media by EDTA-modified mesoporous silica SBA-15

An organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous silica material was synthesized by two-step post-grafting method of SBA-15 with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy-silane (APTES) and thionyl dichloride (SOCl2) activated ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in sequence and measured by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (EA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen (N2) adsorption–desorption analysis and back titration. The material was found having the beneficial properties of mesoporous silica SBA-15 and EDTA. Adsorption potential of the material for Pb (II) removal from aqueous solution was investigated by varying experimental conditions such as pH, contact time and initial metal concentration. The removal efficiency of Pb2+ was high under studied experimental conditions. The adsorption equilibrium could be reached within 20 min and the kinetic data were fitted well by pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion model. The adsorbent exhibited a favorable performance and its maximum adsorption capacity calculated by the Langmuir model was 273.2 mg g−1. Recycling experiments showed the adsorbent could be regenerated by acid treatment without altering its properties. The chemical states of the elements involved in the adsorption were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism of the material involved Na Pb ion-exchange and carboxyl group dominated surface complexation.

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► A hybrid mesoporous material was synthesized by two-step post-grafting.
► The material has the advantages of mesoporous silica SBA-15 and EDTA.
► Only one carboxyl group per EDTA molecule was acyl chlorinated.
► The adsorbent exhibited excellent adsorption properties for lead (II) removal.
► Adsorption mechanism of the material involved ion-exchange and complexation.