(42d) The Synthesis of Amino Acid-Containing Two-Dimensional Silicoaluminophosphates and Their Applications As Functional Adsorbents

2D materials have the advantage of high specific surface area, making them attractive for adsorption applications with strong adsorption and facile uptake. Inspired by recent development of zeolite nanosheets, our group developed 2D silicoaluminophosphates (SAPOs) with amino acids as the growth modifier. The materials have shown weak crystallinity as synthesized but will turn totally amorphous after high-temperature calcination. It makes the materials unattractive for applications in their calcined forms. However, the vast external surface together with the exposed amino and/or carboxyl functional groups in as synthesized 2D SAPOs could make them attractive for adsorption and many other applications. A range of amino acids have been studied as the growth modifier and achieved 2D materials in this research. I will discuss how different amino acids will affect crystal morphology. More thorough understanding of the role of molecular structure of amino acid on the 2D SAPO synthesis will be achieved. Detailed characterizations will be used to reveal their physical and chemical properties. The applicability of the amino acid-containing 2D SAPOs as adsorbents will be demonstrated by Congo red adsorption in aqueous phase, which is important to address the environment issue caused by the coloring agent. The adsorption isotherms and uptake rates will be compared with conventional zeolite and the calcined samples. This work will showcase the direct synthesis of functional nanosheets and their outstanding adsorption properties.