A Water-Based Synthesis of Hybrid SilicaHyperbranched Poly(ethylene imine)‎ Nanopowder for Heavy Metal Sorption from Aqueous Solutions

الملخص EN

A novel hybrid, water-based, sol-gel method was developed for the synthesis of functionalized silica with advanced adsorptive capacities towards heavy metal ions.

The study employs the hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) (HBPEI) as a reactive template for the synthesis of silica.

The reaction was followed by FTIR, whereas the material was evaluated in terms of its microstructure and adsorptive properties.

The results revealed a very potent adsorbent that can remove heavy metal ions (namely, Pb, Cu, and Zn) from water in a fast and efficient way.

Greater selectivity was observed for lead, whereas the maximum adsorption capacities calculated from the Langmuir model were 833.3, 502.5, and 193.4 mg/g for lead, copper, and zinc, respectively.