Composite solid surfaces
with high content of functional groups
(FGs) are useful materials in different types of applications requiring
stimuli-responsive “hard/soft” architectures, their
improved properties rising from the combination of organic–inorganic
parts. Among different types of weak polyelectrolytes, poly(ethyleneimine)
(PEI) is of great interest in the construction of composite systems
with thin layer-by-layer (LbL) organic films due to the large number
of amino groups per unit mass of polymer. Herein, the spherical silica
microparticles were modified with linear (L) or branched (B) PEI chains
using LbL deposition of a copper complex (PEIL–Cu2+ or PEIB–Cu2+) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), glutaraldehyde
selective cross-linking, followed by copper and PAA extraction from
the multilayer. The newly formed silica/(PEIL)10 and silica/(PEIB)10 composites were used in batch and column sorption/desorption
experiments of four heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Cd2+). In noncompetitive conditions
([FG]/Σ[M2+] > 9), all heavy metal ions were retained
on composites, demonstrating the potential application of the prepared
functional microparticles in surface water treatment. However, in
competitive conditions ([FG]/Σ[M2+] < 9), only
Cu2+ is sorbed in high amount (∼2.5 mmol·g–1 PEI) on composites, with simultaneous displacement
of already sorbed ions, demonstrating the solid-phase extraction and
chromatographic properties of the synthesized silica/(PEIL)
n
and silica/(PEIB)
n
composites.