Functionalized mesoporous silica with diverse silane groups for enhanced uranium adsorption selectivity: leveraging response surface methodology for experiment design and outcome prediction
摘要
Mesoporous SBA-15 silica was synthesized and functionalized with amine groups to enhance the adsorption of U(VI) from aqueous solutions. We utilized three silane agents, APTES, 3-(2-Aminoethylamino) propyl trimethoxysilane, and N1-(3-Trimethoxysilylpropyl) diethylenetriamine, providing one, two, and three amine branches, respectively. Batch adsorption experiments conducted under varying pH, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration, and temperature revealed a maximum adsorption capacity of 1151.67 mg/g with triamine-functionalized SBA-15. Structural analyses, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and BET, confirmed the successful modifications. Additionally, optimization through response surface methodology identified optimal conditions of pH 7.91, 38.87 °C, and 100 mg/l uranium, resulting in an uptake of 1120.59 mg/g.