Template Synthesis and Adsorption Properties of Hierarchically Porous Zirconium Titanium Oxides

Hierarchical morphologies in metal oxides are advantageous for many applications, including controlled drug release, photocatalysis, catalysis, synthetic biomaterials, and adsorption and separation technologies. In this study, agarose gel has been used as a template to prepare zirconium titanium mixed oxide pellets with bimodal porosity. Sol-gel chemistry conducted within the agarose gel produced coral-like interconnected networks of oxide nanoparticles with controllable quantities of zirconium and titanium. The materials were characterized using N-2 sorption, extended X-ray absorption fine structure, X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM, zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (to measure surface hydroxyl group density). The oxides were then tested for the adsorption of vanadyl and vanadate to determine which Zr mole fraction exhibited the highest capacity and fastest kinetics. The material containing 25 mol % Zr exhibited the highest surface area (322 +/- 8 m(2)/g) of the compositions investigated and also displayed a superior adsorption rate and capacity. Vanadate adsorption occurred with faster kinetics than did vanadyl adsorption. A comparative study demonstrated that the macro/meso pore structure had improved transport properties over a monomodal mesopore structure of similar Zr/Ti composition. The faster vanadate adsorption kinetics is attributed to enhanced surface accessibility in a hierarchical material.