The ability to decorate silicate surface with different organoalkoxysilanes creates powerful new capabilities for catalyst, adsorbents and chemical separation. Mesopororus silica, MCM-41 was modified by grafting of amino and mercaptopropyl functional group. The structures of these materials were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The samples were found to exhibit structural properties similar to those reported earlier. Significant functional groups of the modified mesoporous silicates were found in the spectrum of FT-IR. Standard structure of mesoporous silicates were found to be preserved at planar [100] of XRD difractogram of mesoporous silicates. Adsorption of Cu (II) ions were done under different temperatures, initial concentrations and pH. Adsorption process also was determined from kinetic point of view and was found to be better fitted to pseudo second order of kinetic model.

The capability for the adsorption of Cu (II) ion with mesoporous material SBA-15, amino-functionalized SBA-15 and mercaptopropyl-functionalized SBA-15 was investigated. XRD, FT-IR and FESEM were used for characterizing the structure and surface properties of adsorbent prepared. Effects of initial concentrations and pH on adsorption process were studied. Amino-functionalized SBA-15 was found to show the highest percentage removal of Cu (II) ion from aqueous solution compared to mercaptopropyl-functionalized SBA-15. Adsorption isothermal model was also examined. Langmuir isothermal model was found to be better fitted with adsorption process compared to Freundlich isotherm model.

A composite structure based on silylated MCM-41 and Poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was synthesized via solution intercalation. Poly (vinyl acetate)-silylated Si-MCM-41 composite were characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and13C CP/MAS NMR in order to determine the compatibility between PVAc and the silicate host. XRD study reveals that the framework of silylated Si-MCM-41 was not altered upon incorporation of PVAc. FTIR study showed that characteristic peak assigned to carbonyl group in PVAc was observed around 1741.6 cm-1for all the composites indicating the presence of PVAc in the silylated Si-MCM-41.13C CP/MAS NMR showed the increase of line width of the peak assigned to C=O carbonyl group indicating the increase in randomness of polymer chains in confined space. The shifting of the C=O carbonyl groups is a sign of the change in chemical environment of the carbonyl owing to the interaction of PVAc with the silica matrix of silylated Si-MCM-41.