Micelle swelling agent derived cavities for increasing hydrophobic organic compound removal efficiency by mesoporous micelle@silica hybrid materials

Mesoporous micelle@silica hybrid materials with 2D hexagonal mesostructures were synthesized as reusable sorbents for hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) removal by a facile one-step aqueous solution synthesis using 3-(trimethoxysily)propyl-octadecyldimethyl-ammonium chloride (TPODAC) as a structure directing agent. The mesopores were generated by adding micelle swelling agent, 1,3,5-trimethyl benzene, during the synthesis and removing it afterward, which was demonstrated to greatly increase the HOC removal efficiency. In this material, TPODAC surfactant is directly anchored on the pore surface of mesoporous silica viaSiOSi covalent bond after the synthesis due to its reactive Si(OCH3)3 head group, and thus makes the synthesized materials can be easily regenerated for reuse. The obtained materials show great potential in water treatment as pollutants sorbents.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► One-step facile synthesis of ordered mesoporous micelle@silica hybrid materials. ► The surfactant is permanently anchored on the silica framework via covalent bond. ► The micelle swelling agent derived cavities significantly increased the hydrophobic organic compound removal efficiency.