Chemical Synthesis for Mesoporous Silica (MCM-41) and Evaluating Its Efficiency in Removal of Heavy Metals Ions

The pollution of water sources due to harmful chemicals, especially heavy metal ions such as Ni++ and Co++, remains a global challenge. To address this issue, various studies have focused on developing new treatment methods. Nanotechnology provides innovative techniques for efficiently removing heavy metals and other pollutants from water and wastewater. It is crucial to eliminate these hazardous heavy metals to protect both human health and the environment. Mesoporous silica (MCM-41) is a type of silica nanoparticles with pores ranging from 2 to 50 nm in diameter, and a total diameter below 1 μm. It is gaining attention as a promising adsorbent due to its large surface area, high pore volume, thermal and mechanical stability, and organized pore structure. The synthesis of mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a source was successful, and the material was characterized using FTIR, FESEM, XRD, and TGA techniques. The removal abilities of the synthesized silica for Ni++ and Co++ ions from water samples were tested under various conditions, including pH, initial concentration, contact time, and mass. The results showed that Ni++ ions were removed with an effectiveness of 96% and Co++ ions with an efficiency of 97.8%. The most effective removal rates were observed at a pH of 9 and a contact time of 180 minutes at temperatures of 25°C, 35°C, and 45°C. The adsorption data was analyzed using the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin isotherm models.