Cadmium(II) adsorption using functional mesoporous silica and activated carbon

The role of surface functionality on silica and carbonaceous materials for adsorption of cadmium(II) was examined using various mesoporous silica and activated carbon. Silica surfaces were principally functionalized by mono-amino- and mercapto-groups, while carboxylic group was introduced to the activated carbons by oxidation. Functional groups on silica surface were formed using grafting and co-condensation techniques in their preparation. Mono-amino group was found more effective than di-and tri-amino groups for cadmium(II) adsorption on the grafted silica. Mono-amino groups prepared by co-condensation adsorbed cadmium(II) as much as 0.25 mmol/g compared to mercapto- and carboxyl-groups which adsorbed around 0.12 mmol/g, whereas Langmuir adsorption affinities were as strong as 50-60 L/mmol for all of the three functions. The working pH range was wider for mercapto- and carboxyl-functions than for amino-group. Basic site could be an adsorption center for amino-functional groups while ion exchange sites were found to work for the mercapto- and carboxyl-functions to adsorb cadmium(II) from aqueous phase. Based on the experimental results, surface functional groups rather than structure of silica and carbon seemed to play a decisive role for cadmium(II) adsorption. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.