Synthesis and Metal Collecting Properties of Mono, Di, Tri and Tetramine Based on Silica Gel Matrix

Silica gels, chemically modified with mono, di, tri and tetramine (I - IV), were synthesized. The monoamine (I) was produced directly via the reaction of silica gel with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The diamine (II), triamine (III) and tetramine (IV) were produced through the reaction of ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA) and triethylenetetramine (TETA) with 3-chloropropyltrichloromethane modified silica gel, respectively. The sorption properties of the phases (I - IV) toward Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) were investigated at different pH-values based on the batch equilibrium technique, The, metal uptake capacities (mmol/g) were determined and discussed in terms of the structure of the aliphatic amines and the increasing number of nitrogen donor atoms. The metal capacity values demonstrate the higher efficiency of phases III and IV than phases I and II for preconcentration of such metal ions. Moreover, the use of phases III and IV for selective extraction of Cu(II) and Ni(II) is promising.