|
authors |
Figueira, P; Lourenco, MAO; Pereira, E; Gomes, JRB; Ferreira, P; Lopes, CB |
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nationality |
International |
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journal |
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING |
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author keywords |
Adsorption; Water treatment; Mercury (II) ion; Hybrid materials; Periodic mesoporous organosilica |
|
keywords |
MERCURY IONS; REMOVAL; SILICA; ADSORPTION; SORPTION; ADSORBENTS; PARTICLES; REMEDIATION; SORBENTS; KINETICS |
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abstract |
This research describes the synthesis and characterization of a periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) with low thiol density, and its efficiency to trap Hg(II) from waters under realistic environmental conditions. Despite the low density of SH groups grafted to the silanol groups of the pristine PMO, the functionalized material displays effective (92%) and rapid (5 min) extraction of Hg(II) from ultra-pure water. The complete extraction (98%) was achieved in 15 min. The kinetic sorption is well fitted by the pseudo second-order kinetic model (R-2 ranged from 0.994 to 1.000), suggesting a chemisorption mechanism, under the experimental conditions tested. The maximum sorption capacity is not limited to the number of the sulfur coordination sites, and multi-layer and physical adsorption may occur for high Hg(II) concentrations. In the range of experimental conditions used, the mathematical function that better describes the equilibrium data is given by the Freundlich model (R-2 = 0.969). It is also demonstrated that the PMO with low sulfur density keeps its high efficiency for Hg(II) in spiked natural waters, of different chemical composition and salinity, as a proof-of-concept for its potential application in water treatment systems to remove Hg(II). In comparison with other PMO materials reported in literature, the low sulfur density PMO is a cheap, effective and safe alternative PMO material for application to low Hg(II) contaminated waters, minimizing the hazardous effects that the organic functionalization may cause to the environment and biota, and consequently, to human health. |
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publisher |
ELSEVIER SCI LTD |
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issn |
2213-3437 |
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year published |
2017 |
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volume |
5 |
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issue |
5 |
|
beginning page |
5043 |
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ending page |
5053 |
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digital object identifier (doi) |
10.1016/j.jece.2017.09.032 |
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web of science category |
Engineering, Environmental |
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subject category |
Engineering |
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unique article identifier |
WOS:000414041300094
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