Synthesis of mesoporous silica materials (MCM‐41) using silica fume as the silica source in a binary surfactant system assisted by post‐hydrothermal treatment and its Pb²⁺ removal properties

Abstract

Mesoporous silica materials (MCM‐41) were successfully prepared by substituting silica fume for silicate in different surfactant systems. The effects of binary surfactant systems and post‐hydrothermal treatment on the morphology and structural properties of MCM‐41 were investigated based on X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N2 sorption/desorption, and transmission electron microscopy analyses (TEM). The results confirmed that polyethylene glycol (PEG‐6000) is an effective additive template in a binary surfactant system for the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials. Meanwhile, the hydrothermal stability of the mesoporous silica materials can be improved by post‐hydrothermal treatment and the optimal experimental parameters are a temperature of 140 °C and a treatment time of 48 h. The formation of high‐quality MCM‐41 is based on the balance between the ordered assembly of the inorganic anionic species and cationic surfactant, in accordance with the electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds between PEG‐6000 and the inorganic species. Meanwhile, Pb(II) removal from aqueous solution has also been examined using MCM‐41 as an adsorbent. The results of adsorption showed that the as‐synthesized MCM‐41 demonstrated a high capacity of Pb2+.

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Virtual issue: Voices from China

“…Mesoporous silica materials (MCM‐41) were successfully prepared by substituting silica fume for silicate in different surfactant systems. Zhu et al confirmed that polyethylene glycol (PEG‐6000) is an effective additive template in a binary surfactant system for the synthesis of mesoporous silica materials . Wu et al studied the mass transfer and reaction kinetics of soybean oil epoxidation using concentrated hydrogen peroxide in a formic acid‐autocatalyzed reaction system, and then they developed a biphasic model for the epoxidation process .…”