Characterization of aminopropyltriethoxysilane-functionalized polycaprolactone-montmorillonite beads for heavy metal biosorption

Abstract

The study focuses on the fabrication of montmorillonite (MMT) based composites via functionalization with polycaprolactone (PCL) and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) for adsorption of divalent metal ions Cu 2+ and Fe2+. Surface morphology of the composites revealed that the PCL-APTS-MMT beads have finer particle size compared to PCL-MMT. Infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed the covalent interaction of the PCL to the MMT matrix and the APTS-PCL-MMT composite. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a decrease in thermal stability for the composite powders. Analyses with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models revealed greater maximum adsorption capacity for the PCL-APTS-MMT composite compared to PCL-MMT. The divalent ions could be removed by the obtained composite material through the possible mechanisms of ion exchange and chelation. © 2011 Ceramic Society of Japan..