The adsorption behavior
of an organic dye, metanil yellow (My),
from water using micro–nano silica particles (MNSPs) was investigated.
MCM-41-like (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41) MNSPs were synthesized
using tetraethoxy orthosilicate as a silica source and hexadecyltrimethylammonium
bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant under basic conditions. Comparative
studies were performed to assess the adsorption behaviors of the organic
dye using the as-synthesized MCM-41 before the removal of CTAB and
MCM-41, either after one, two, and three times of chemical etching
or after calcination. My was adsorbed more effectively from water
on the as-synthesized MCM-41 without the removal of the surfactant
than on MCM-41 after the removal of the surfactant by chemical etching
or calcination. In addition, MCM-41 after removing the surfactant
by one-time chemical etching in the presence of hydrochloric acid
also showed better adsorption of My from water than MCM-41 after removing
the surfactant by further two and three times of chemical etching
or calcination. For comparison, other kinds of dye molecules with
different chemical structures such as methylene blue (Mb) and rhodamine
B (Rb) were also used to check the possibility of adsorption of various
dyes by the CTAB-supported MNSPs. To better understand the reason
behind the adsorption phenomena, detailed studies on the kinetics
and thermodynamics of adsorption of the MNSPs were performed. Excellent
adsorption of My was observed at concentrations up to 100 mg L
–1
at 25 °C, whereas the adsorption was lower at
higher concentrations of the My dye. Furthermore, enhanced My dye
adsorption was observed at higher concentrations by increasing the
adsorption temperature. It can be concluded that the MNSPs exhibited
efficient adsorption of My, when the MNSPs are used without the removal
of the surfactant and any further modifications, suggesting that the
surfactant played key roles in the effective adsorption of the anionic
dye. The as-synthesized MCM-41 was, however, not a good adsorbent
for cationic dyes such as Mb and Rb.