Synthesis and characterization of sulfonic acid-functionalized SBA-15 for adsorption of biomolecules

Sulfonic acid-functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve (SBA-15-SO3H and SBA-15-po-SO3H) were synthesized by two post-synthesis methods. The functionalized SBA-15 materials were characterized and used to investigate the adsorption behavior for proteins (bovine serum albumin and cytochrome c) and polypeptides (insulin and glucagon) in the static and dynamic processes. The adsorption conditions: including adsorption time, pH and ionic strength of sample solution were investigated in the static adsorption mode. Under optimal conditions, SBA-15-SO3H and SBA-15-po-SO3H had a maximum capacity for insulin of 430 and 451 mg/g and for glucagon of 1303 and 1094 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the two functionalized SBA-15 mesoporous materials showed selectively adsorption of proteins in the dynamic adsorption mode. Compared with SBA-15, the surface modification of SBA-15 was responsible for the selective adsorption of proteins and high adsorption capacity for some biomolecules. It indicated that the two functionalized materials could be used as adsorbents to immobilize or separate biomolecules.

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► Two strong cation-exchange SO3H modified SBA-15 materials were synthesized.
► Two modified SBA-15 could selectively adsorb proteins in the dynamic mode.
► Two modified SBA-15 had large loading capacity for polypeptides in the static mode.