Synthesis and Characterization of Surface Ion-imprinted Polymer Based on Mesoporous Silica SBA-15 for Selective Removal of Cu(II) from Aqueous Solutions

A Cu(II) ion-imprinted polymer (Cu(II)-IIP) for the selective adsorption and separation of Cu(II) was prepared by modifying the surface of mesoporous silica SBA-15 through surface ion imprinting. The prepared polymer was characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy disperse spectrometer (EDS), Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm. Batch adsorption tests were investigated on the effects of solution pH value, contact time and different initial Cu(II) ion concentrations. The results showed that the Cu(II)-IIP has higher adsorption capacity and selectivity than that of non-imprinted polymer (NIP). The adsorption isotherm followed Langmuir model. The kinetic data well fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model compared with the pseudo-firstorder kinetic model. The selectivity coefficients for Cu(II)/Cd(II), Cu(II)/Fe(II), Cu(II)/Co(II), Cu(II)/Pb(II) were 3.56, 2.32, 11.75, 4.73, respectively. In addition, Adsorption capacity did not significantly decrease after five adsorption-desorption cycles were completed. demonstrating that the polymer is stable and reusable.