Homogeneous Zr and Ti co-doped SBA-15 with high specific surface area: preparation, characterization and application

Abstract

Abstract: A facile synthesis procedure is proposed to prepare homogeneous Zr and Ti co-doped SBA-15 (Zr-Ti-SBA-15) with high specific surface area of 876.0 m2 g− 1. Based on “masking mechanism” from tanning, lactic acid was used as masking agent to obtain the uniform distribution of Zr and Ti species in the SBA-15 framework. The obtained materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS). The results reveal that in mesoporous materials, the presence of lactic acid gives rise to the uniform distribution of Zr and Ti species. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetic studies of Zr-Ti-SBA-15 materials show that the adsorption process conforms to the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, respectively. Regenerational experiments show that the Zr-Ti-SBA-15 displays a significant adsorption ability for methylene blue (MB) (up to 291.6 mg/g), along with good reusability, indicating promising potentials of commercialization. Methodologically, this work provides a wide range of possibilities for further development of SBA-15 based on bimetallic and sewage disposal. Graphical abstract: Homogenous Zr-Ti-SBA-15 with high specific surface area was successfully by direct synthesis method. The as-prepared Zr-Ti-SBA-15 possessed excellent adsorption capacity and reusability.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].