Functionalization of carbon nanobeads and their use as metal ion adsorbents

Ethylenediamine, dithiocarbamate and thioureido ligand functionalized nanoparticles, with average diameters ranging from 4 to. 8 nm and containing 1.06 to 1.26 mmol of ligand/g, are readily obtained when carbon nanobeads are modified with a silane coupling agent,and then functionalized with carbon disulfide and phenylisothiocyanate. Their sorption characteristics for transition metal cations have been studied. The nanometer metal ion adsorbents exhibit very high selectivities, capacities and rates of complexing. This study demonstrates that these nanoparticles have potential applications as catalyst supports. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.