Selective adsorption behavior of Pb(II) by mesoporous silica SBA-15-supported Pb(II)-imprinted polymer based on surface molecularly imprinting technique

In this study, a new Pb(II) ion-imprinted polymer (Pb(II)-IIP), which can be used for selective adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions, was successfully prepared based on the supported material of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 with the help of surface molecular imprinting technology. The prepared polymer was characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm. The results showed that the synthesized polymer possessed high ordered mesoporous structure. The adsorption behavior of the adsorbents for Pb(II) was investigated using batch experiments. The Pb(II)-IIP showed fast kinetics, high selectivity and satisfied adsorption capacity for adsorption of Pb(II). Under the optimum experimental condition, Pb(II) adsorption process over Pb(II)-IIP follows pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics and follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters calculated from the adsorption data suggested that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto Pb(II)-IIP was a spontaneous and exothermic nature of the process.