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. 2021 Mar 1;26(5):1316.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26051316.

Silica Monolith for the Removal of Pollutants from Gas and Aqueous Phases

Vanessa Miglio  1   2 , Chiara Zaccone  1   2 , Chiara Vittoni  1   2 , Ilaria Braschi  2   3 , Enrico Buscaroli  3 , Giovanni Golemme  4 , Leonardo Marchese  1   2 , Chiara Bisio  1   2   5
Affiliations

Silica Monolith for the Removal of Pollutants from Gas and Aqueous Phases

Vanessa Miglio et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

This study focused on the application of mesoporous silica monoliths for the removal of organic pollutants. The physico-chemical textural and surface properties of the monoliths were investigated. The homogeneity of the textural properties along the entire length of the monoliths was assessed, as well as the reproducibility of the synthesis method. The adsorption properties of the monoliths for gaseous toluene, as a model of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), were evaluated and compared to those of a reference meso-structured silica powder (MCM-41) of commercial origin. Silica monoliths adsorbed comparable amounts of toluene with respect to MCM-41, with better performances at low pressure. Finally, considering their potential application in water phase, the adsorption properties of monoliths toward Rhodamine B, selected as a model molecule of water soluble pollutants, were studied together with their stability in water. After 24 h of contact, the silica monoliths were able to adsorb up to the 70% of 1.5 × 10-2 mM Rhodamine B in water solution.

Keywords: adsorption; rhodamine B; toluene; water stability of monolith.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM micrographs (20000×) of Mono-ICE before (A) and after calcination (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms at 77K (A) and pores size distribution (B) of calcined Mono-ICE-Lateral A (a), Mono-ICE-Lateral B (b), and Mono-ICE-Central C (c).
Figure 3
Figure 3
N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms at 77 K (A) and pores size distribution (B) of calcined Mono-ICE-Lateral A (■) and Mono-ICE-Lateral A-36h (●).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) FT-IR spectra of calcined Mono-ICE sample after outgassing at RT for 1 h (curve a, green), after dosages of 5, 10, 15, 20 mbar up to 30 mbar of toluene (curve f, orange), and after evacuation of toluene at RT for 30 min (curve g). (B) Toluene volumetric adsorption (full symbols) and desorption (empty symbols) isotherms of toluene at 35 °C on calcined Mono-ICE (a, ■), and MCM 41 (b, ●) samples.
Figure 5
Figure 5
UV-Vis spectra, showing the intensity decrease of the maximum characteristic peak at 553 nm of 1.5 × 10−2 mM Rhodamine B in water solution (a), after 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (d), 4 (e), 5 (f), 6 (g) and 24 (h) hours of contact with the calcined Mono-ICE, at room temperature.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Concentration (%) decrease over time of 1.5 × 10−2 mM Rhodamine B water solution in the presence of calcined Mono-ICE before (■) and after water treatment (●). Error bars represent standard deviations calculated on averaging results collected from three replicated experiments.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Mono-ICE samples.
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