Facile microwave-assisted fabrication of nano-zirconium silicate-functionalized-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as a novel adsorbent for superior removal of divalent ions

A method is described for functionalization of nano-zirconium silicate with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane by a fast solvent-free reaction using microwave-assisted fabrication approach to produce a novel Nano-ZrSiO4-NH2 adsorbent. The structure was confirmed from the FT-IR, SEM, TGA and surface area analysis. The metal adsorption and selectivity properties were examined and evaluated from the distribution coefficients (K-d) of a series of metal ions. Nano-ZrSiO4-NH2 was identified to exhibit 6.300, 4.000 and 2.100 mmol g(-1), as the highest capacity values for Cu(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively using 0.005 g of the adsorbent per 10.0 mL solution. Other important controlling factors were also explored. (C) 2015 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.