Utilization of mesoporous molecular sieves synthesized from natural source rice husk silica to chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) adsorption

The adsorption of trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and carbon tetrachloride was studied over our synthesized mesoporous material, MCM-41, from rice husk silica source, abbreviated as RH-MCM-41. More than 99% silica for RH-MCM-41 synthesis was extracted from rice husk under refluxing in HBr solution and then calcined at 873 K for 4 hours. RH-MCM-41 possessed surface area around 750-1,100 m(2)/g with a uniform pore size with an average diameter of 2.95 nm, narrow range of pore distribution and somewhat hexagonal structure, similar to properties of parent MCM-41. The adsorption of CCl4 to RB-MCM-41 was stronger than that of TCE and PCE. The adsorption capacity of RH-MCM-41 for CVOCs (chlorinated volatile organic compounds) was higher than commercial mordenite and activated carbons.