Removal of Copper-phthalocyanine from Aqueous Solution by Cationically Templated MCM-41 and MCM-48 Nanoporous Adsorbents

The effect of cationic template on the adsorption of copper-phthalocyanine-3,4',4,4-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt [Cu(tSpC)(-4)center dot 4Na(+)] in MCM-41 and MCM-48 mesoporous materials was investigated, using cetyltrimethylammanoum bromide (CTAB) as the cationic template and tetraethyl-orthosilicate as the silica source for synthesis of mesoporous materials. The properties of synthesized samples were characterized with XRD-low angle and scanning electron microscopy. The as-synthesized mesoporous samples were used for the separation of Cu(tSPC)(-4)center dot 4Na(+) from aqueous solution, which showed very high adsorption capacity for it. The parameters included agitation speed, contact time, composition of adsorbents (presence or absence of surfactants) and initial analyte concentrations. Adsorption uptakes were rapid on the adsorbents reaching equilibrium in 1/5 h for MCM-48 and 2 h for MCM-41. The materials showed excellent adsorption capacity toward copper-phythalocyanine anion (300.5 mg/g of Cu(tsPc)(-4) for as-MCM48 and 285.5 mg/g for as-MCM-41). The materials without surfactant did not show significant affinity for analyte. Dominant sorption mechanisms were interactions including electrostatic, hydrophobicity, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions.