Novel organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous materials for boron adsorption

Amine groups and polyol groups were sequentially grafted on mesoporous SBA-15 and MCM-41 to synthesize novel organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous materials as boron adsorbents by a two-step post-grafting method. By means of small-angle XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, solid-state NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and elemental analysis, the structure and physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized. The behaviors of the resulting adsorbents in adsorption of boron from solutions were investigated. The results show that the organic functional groups are successfully grafted on the SBA-15 and MCM-41, while the quantity and the distribution of the functional groups are varied due to the different pore properties of the materials. The boron adsorption isotherms of the adsorbents are in good accordance with the Langmuir equation. The polyol-functionalized SBA-15 was proved to be a promising adsorbent with the high adsorption capacity of boron up to 0.63 mmol/g as well as the high selectivity towards boron.