Hybrid Mesoporous Silica Based on Hyperbranch-Substrate Nanonetwork as Highly Efficient Adsorbent for Water Treatment

Hybrid mesoporous silica based on a hyperbranch-substrate nanonetwork as highly efficient adsorbent was explored by an efficient and facile approach combined with one-pot condensation and grafting-to methodology, including a terminated amino hyperbranched polymer (HBP) modification. The specific synthesis procedure involves the following steps: (i) premodification of SBA-15 via a co-condensation-hydrolysis route, obtaining carboxyl fiinctionalized SBA-15 (SBA-CAR), and (ii) grafting HBP onto SBA-CAR by a grafting-to method, obtaining hybrid mesoporous silica (SBA-HBP). The main structural characteristics of SBA-15 are preserved in the resultant SBA-HBP, which exhibits high surface area, large pore volume, and well-ordered porosity made up of uniform mesopores. Due to its reusability and with a three-dimensional hyperbranchsubstrate nanonetwork with substantial functional groups, the as-synthesized SBA-HBP is considered a versatile and sustainable adsorbent for dyes (i.e., methylene blue and congo red) and heavy metal ions (i.e., Cu2+ and Fe3+) from aqueous media with high adsorption capacity and quick adsorption rate. Also, the saturated adsorption capacities are 452.1 mg/g for MB, 593.4 mg/g for CR, 224.2 mg/g for Fe3+, and 158.7 mg/g for Cu2+, respectively.