The removal of two selected environmental pollutants such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Triclosan (TC) was examined by
adsorption experiments on the modified SBA-15 and MCF
mesoporous silicas. Mesoporous
adsorbents were modified by a grafting process with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]urea (TMSPU).
Mesoporous materials were synthesized and characterized by N
2 adsorption–desorption experiment,
transmission electron microscopy (TEM),
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR),
elemental analysis and adsorption studies. The results show that both APTES-functionalized SBA-15 and MCF nanoporous carriers are potentially good adsorbents for the removal of 2,4-D in a wide range of concentrations from 0.1 to 4 mg/cm
3. Maximum adsorption capacity of as-modified adsorbents for 2,4-D estimated from the Langmuir model was ~ 280 mg/g. The ionic interaction between the adsorbent and 2,4-D seems to play a key role in the adsorption process of the pollutant on APTES-modified siliceous matrices. The efficiency of TC sorption onto all prepared mesoporous adsorbents was significantly lower as compared to the entrapment of 2,4-D. Experimental data were best fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model. The results of this study suggest that mesoporous silica-based materials are promising adsorbents for the removal of selected organic pollutants.