Comparative Study of Amino-Functionalized Magnetic Mesoporous Arrangements for the Remediation of Persistent Organic Pollutants from Water Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

In the present strategy, we have carried out the development of magnetic mesoporous arrays to be used as adsorbent materials in environmental approaches. The prepared mesoporous nanomaterials were applied for the remediation of persistent organic pollutants via adsorption technology. Thus, two different magnetic mesoporous materials, named MCM-48-CoFe2O4 and MCM-48-CoFe2O4-NH2, were prepared via hydrothermal process and subsequent postgrafting functionalization, respectively. On the other hand, the adsorption essays of the mixture of organic pollutants were conducted from the statistical treatment (2(4)). The MCM-48-CoFe2O4 and MCM-48-CoFe2O4-NH2 arrangements showed the main textural and structural characteristics of mesoporous materials as well as the practical and structural functionalities typical of incorporated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Therefore, from the point of view of applicability as adsorbent material, the magnetic mesoporous materials showed advanced properties in the remediation of organic pollutants, whose removal efficiency was of the order of (i) 82.0, 97.4, 97.5, and 97.5%, respectively, for the phenanthrene (Phe), benzo[b]fluoranthene (B[b]F), benzo[k]fluoranthene (B[k]F), and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) using the MCM-48-CoFe2O4 and (ii) 94.0, 97.4, 97.4, and 97.5% for the MCM-48-CoFe2O4-NH2 for the same polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Finally, it is noteworthy to observe that the prepared magnetic mesoporous materials have great potential to be used as adsorbent materials for different organic pollutants found in the environment.