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Influence of the synthesis parameters on the mesoporous structure and adsorption behavior of silica xerogels fabricated by sol–gel technique

  • Original Paper: Nano- and macroporous materials (aerogels, xerogels, cryogels, etc.)
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Abstract

Silicon dioxide xerogels with controlled mesoporosity were produced by sol–gel technique. The mesoporosity and adsorption behavior of methylene blue (MB) were evaluated for the fabricated silica materials. This study is supported by several characterizations, including FTIR, TEM, SEM, and N2 sorption. The adsorption kinetics of MB on the prepared samples was evaluated at room temperature over time. It was demonstrated that the pore structure and adsorption performance of silica are closely dependent on the pH of the sol–gel solution, H2O:TEOS molar ratio, the addition of F127 template, and heat treatment performed. The present study shows that for the adsorption parameters used in this work, the control of sol–gel parameters can give rise to silica xerogels with higher adsorption capacities than SBA-16 silica molecular sieve used as the reference and already recognized as an efficient dye adsorbent. The highest adsorption capacities were measured for silica structures obtained without the use of acidic catalyst, heat treatment or F127 template. As the pore volume of the studied materials is much larger than the amount of MB captured in the adsorption tests, such results seem to be related to the specific surface area and pore size obtained in the sol–gel synthesis. Therefore, it appears that large surface areas and pore sizes accelerate the adsorption kinetic and increase the amount of MB able to stay in equilibrium in the pore structure of silica. As a matter of fact, the work developed here underlines the advantages regarding the simplicity, safety, environmental preservation and cost saving of the synthesis methodology developed herein when compared with the other methodologies commonly used to fabricate silica adsorbents.

Highlights

  • Silicon dioxide xerogel structures with controlled mesoporosity produced by sol–gel technique

  • Mesoporosity tailored by varying the solution pH, H2O:TEOS molar ratio, addition of F127 and heat treatment

  • Synthesis of silica xerogel adsorbents with higher adsorption capacity than SBA-16 silica used as the reference

  • Development of a simple, safe and green procedure to fabricate silica adsorbents with a high adsorption capacity

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Acknowledgements

FAPEMIG (APQ-00792-17 and APQ-01881-18), CNPq (305013/2017-3 and 301423/2018-0), and PRPq-UFMG (05/2016) are acknowledged for the financial support. The authors kindly thank INCT-Acqua Institute, Prof. Paulo Brandão, Ilda Batista and Isabel Batista for the help about FTIR and Nitrogen sorption characterizations. We also greatly thank Professors Adriana França and Leandro Soares from DEMEC-UFMG (Laboratório de Biocombustíveis) for the helpful discussions and support given to this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus UFMG, CEP: 31270-901, Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 2, 5° andar, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Thays Lorrane Rodrigues Mota & Hugo Guimarães Palhares

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus UFMG, CEP: 31270-901, Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 2, Sala 2233, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Ana Lícia Moura Gomes & Eduardo Henrique Martins Nunes

  3. Department of Materials Engineering and Civil Construction, Federal University of Minas Gerais - UFMG, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus UFMG, CEP: 31270-901, Escola de Engenharia, Bloco 1, Sala 3304, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Manuel Houmard

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Mota, T.L.R., Gomes, A.L.M., Palhares, H.G. et al. Influence of the synthesis parameters on the mesoporous structure and adsorption behavior of silica xerogels fabricated by sol–gel technique. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 92, 681–694 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-019-05131-y

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