(452f) Adsorption of Heavy-Metals in Sulfur-Functionalized and Highly Ordered Mesoporous Carbons

In this project, the mesoporous carbons were synthesized from resorcinol-formaldehyde resins templated by Pluronic F127 triblock copolymer. The mesoporous carbons were further treated with a sulfur-bearing compound that introduced sulfur functionalities onto the mesoporous carbons along with simultaneous enhancement of pore textural properties. The mesoporous carbons were characterized with pore textural properties, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and x-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). In order to understand the heavy metal adsorption on the sulfur-functionalized mesoporous carbons, four metal ions including mercury, lead, nickel and cadmium were adsorbed from their aqueous solutions as a function of the varying pH. Kinetics of adsorption of heavy metals was measured in both individual and in combined form to understand competitive and non-competitive adsorptions. XPS analysis of the metal-loaded mesoporous carbons was performed to understand the binding of metals with sulfur functionalities. The kinetic data of the adsorption were further mathematically modeled to generate the necessary parameters of adsorption.