A novel utilization of raw sepiolite: preparation of magnetic adsorbent directly based on sol-gel for adsorption of Pb(II)

Effect of Sol-Gel Silica Matrices on the Chemical Properties of Adsorbed/Entrapped Compounds

The sol-gel process enables the preparation of silica-based matrices with tailored composition and properties that can be used in a variety of applications, including catalysis, controlled release, sensors, separation, etc. Commonly, it is assumed that silica matrices prepared via the sol-gel synthesis route are "inert" and, therefore, do not affect the properties of the substrate or the catalyst. This short review points out that porous silica affects the properties of adsorbed/entrapped species and, in some cases, takes an active part in the reactions. The charged matrix affects the diffusion of ions, thus affecting catalytic and adsorption processes. Furthermore, recent results point out that ≡Si-O. radicals are long-lived and participate in redox processes. Thus, clearly, porous silica is not an inert matrix as commonly considered.

Facile activation of natural calcium-rich sepiolite with oxalic acid for selective Pb(II) removal: Highly-efficient performance, mechanisms and site energy distribution

The design and development of adsorbents with high efficiency, selectivity, and economy for Pb(II) are essential to environmental governance and ecological safety. Herein, an oxalic acid (OA) activated natural sepiolite (nSEP) composite for highly efficient Pb(II) removal was prepared by a facile impregnation strategy. The OA activated nSEP nanocomposite (OA-nSEP) was characterized by various instrumental techniques and its adsorption performance towards Pb(II) was further evaluated through a series of static and dynamic experiments under various environmental conditions. Results revealed that OA reacted with the calcium impurities in nSEP to form calcium oxalate, causing mesoporous structure and larger specific surface area of OA-nSEP. The obtained OA-nSEP possessed super high Pb(II) adsorption capacities (858.4-1252 mg/g), which were much higher than that of most modified clays or conventional materials. The average adsorption site energy and the standard deviation of the site energy distribution were analyzed to investigate the strength of Pb(II) binding onto OA-nSEP and the adsorption site heterogeneity. Mechanism studies confirmed that oxalate groups exerted a primary role in the adsorption process. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) unveiled that the coordination of oxalate with Pb(II) and precipitation of lead oxalate was responsible for the high efficiency and selectivity. Distinguishing feature of high adsorption capacity, specific selective adsorption, abundant availability, and splendid reusability make the OA-nSEP a promising candidate for eliminating Pb(II) in practical scenarios.

Sorption enhancement of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by polyaniline confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous hydrogel

Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is a typical harmful pollutant, which is carcinogenic or mutagenic to aquatic animals and humans. In this study, sepiolite/humic acid/polyvinyl alcohol@ polyaniline (SC/HA/PVA@PANI) composite porous hydrogel adsorbent was synthesized by Pickering emulsion template in situ chemical oxidative polymerization for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The in situ polymerization of aniline at the Pickering emulsion interface and the unique three-dimensional network structure of the hydrogel act as an effective "confinement" for the growth of the polymer. The porous structure of the material acts as a water channel, which effectively accelerates the binding of the adsorbate to the adsorption sites, and significantly improves the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity of PANI for Cr(VI) confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous SC/HA/PVA@PANI hydrogel reached 1180.97 mg/g-PANI, which increased about 27-fold compared the adsorption capacity of pure PANI (43.48 mg/g). It is shown that the experimental design effectively avoids the agglomeration of PANI and improves its potential adsorption performance. In addition, the analysis of FESEM-EDX, FT-IR, and XPS spectra before and after adsorption confirmed that the main adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) on SC/HA/PVA@PANI included ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and redox reaction. In conclusion, SC/HA/PVA@PANI has good stability and excellent adsorption performance, which is a new type of Cr(VI) ion adsorbent with great potential.