Previous work has established the possibility of using known coordinating agents supported on silica gel in the removal of heavy metals such as lead, copper, cadmium, and nickel from aqueous media. Functionalized silica gel has been used in the removal of heavy metals with notable success. Silica gel is currently being used as a support for various monofunctional aliphatic amines as coordinating ligands. The current study reports the results of an investigation involving the use of saturated, straight chain primary amines as coordinating ligands in the removal of copper(II), cadmium(II), lead(II), nickel(II), and silver(I) ions from aqueous solutions of known concentration. Primary amines used in this investigation were n-butylamine, n-hexylamine, n-octylamine, n-decylamine, and n-hexadecylamine.

Silica gel is currently being used as a support for various straight chain mono- and bifunctional compounds such as amines, thiols (mercaptans), and mercaptoalochols. The current study reports the results of an investigation of a 2-mercaptoethoxy moiety covalently attached to silica gel. The condensation was effected by acid-catalyzed condensation of toluene solution of 2-mercaptoethanol and silica gel and azeotropically removing the water using a Dean-Stark tube. As a coordinating agent, this bifunctional compound was used in the removal of copper(II), cadmium(II), and lead(II) from standard aqueous solutions. Using silica gel support, the removal percentages were 91-93% for the three metals.

Saturated, straight chain mercaptans were attached to silica gel and used as coordinating agents for removal of cadmium(II), copper(II), lead(II), and nickel(II) ions from standard solutions. It is believed that the mercaptans become wedged in the silica pores, but are available for reaction. Four thiols were used, viz., 1-hexanethiol, 1-dodecanethiol, 1-hexadecanethiol, and 1-octadecanethiol. Standard solutions of metals (1.57 mM) were stirred with the supported mercaptans for two hours, and at 25 degrees C, and the sample supernatants were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. At pH = 8, the percent removal was 99 (Cd), 91.5 (Cu), 80.8 (Pb), and 97 (Ni). It was possible to acidify the metal-containing solids, and regenerate the supported chelating agents.