Modification of Silica gel and Its Selective Adsorption of Cu2+ from Aqueous Solution

In the present work, the silica gel with chemical and mechanical stability were choose as a matrix for further modification, endowed with given specific physical and chemical properties for the removal of Cu 2+ in water. The research suggested that, with the activation by methanesulfonic acid, the amination were achieved by chemical bonding between γ-triethoxysilylpropylamine and hydroxyl groups on the surfaces of silica gel. Furthermore, the acrylonitrile was covalently attached by the copolymerization between amino silica gel and acrylonitrile with the initiation of azobisisobutyronitrile. Finally, abundant amino and hydroxyl groups were linked onto the surface of modified silica gel through the amidoximation reaction. The surface nature of modified silica gel was illustrated by infrared spectrum measurement. The significant enhancement of the adsorption of aqueous Cu 2+ on modified silica gel were observed and the effects of contact time, initial concentration of Cu 2+ , pH value of the solution were investigated. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics were calculated and the adsorption mechanism of Cu 2+ on amidoximed silica