Preparation of mesoporous SBA‐15/polymer‐copper(II) composites in supercritical CO 2 and their multiple applications

Novel organic–inorganic mesoporous SBA‐15composites containing nitrogen heterocyclic ring–copper complexes were prepared in supercritical carbon dioxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the composites consisted of SBA‐15 and poly(Pya ‐co‐ AA)–Cu(II). X‐ray diffraction results indicated that the obtained composite possessed a two‐dimensional hexagonal‐ordered mesoporous structure. The specific surface areas of the composites were determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method during nitrogen gas adsorption. The morphology of the composite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The effects of operating parameters, such as pressure, adsorption time, and monomer concentration, were also investigated. High‐yield, uniform composites with large aspect ratios were obtained at moderate concentration and pressure at a certain time. In addition, the adsorption behaviors of bovine serum albumin and the catalytic oxidation of benzylalcohol by the composites were evaluated. The adsorption capacities and catalytic performance of composites were 442.5 mg L −1 and 54.4%, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:823–831, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers