Hydrophobic monolithic silica with abundant pore as efficient adsorbent for organic contaminants removal
Hydrophobic (water CA, 155° ± 5°) monolithic silica (HMS) material with abundant pore was prepared via sol–gel method by using tetraethoxysilane as silicon source and trimethylchlorosilane as surface modification agent. High specific area and appropriate pores structure of the HMS material supply enough space for storing the absorbed molecules. The maximum adsorptive ability toward organic contaminants can reach 14 times the monolith’s weight. It is worth mentioning that saturated adsorption can be reached in a short time due to the interconnected macropores, which ensure that adsorbate diffuse in the bulk easily. In addition, it was verified that after an easy evaporation condensing treatment, the regenerated HMS material could retain its initial adsorption capacity. High adsorption capacities and good regeneration capability for organic-contaminants removal give the HMS material potential applications in wastewater treatment, chemical accident remediation, and environmental protection.