[beta]-diketone functionalized SBA-15 and SBA-16 for rapid liquid-solid extraction of copper

[beta]-diketone functionalized SBA mesoporous materials were used successfully for the removal of copper from aqueous solution. SBA-15 and SBA-16 were impregnated with an acid ligand, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-stearoyl-5-pyrazolone (HPMSP) via the wet impregnation method. Characterization techniques showed that the highly ordered structure of the functionalized SBA is well retained after impregnation by the HPMSP. The effect of different extraction parameters, such as equilibrium time, extraction rate as a function of pH, nature of the medium (presence of NO3 ^sup -^ or SO^sub 4^ ^sup 2-^) and the extraction capacity has been studied and discussed. A copper uptake close to 99.99 % for functionalized SBA-15 and SBA-16 was achieved within only 5 min at lower pH values, thus the extraction kinetics are very rapid and instantaneous as attested by the immediate green coloration of the materials when mixed with copper solution. The extraction capacities of copper were determined about 22 and 25 mg/g at pH 3 respectively for SBA-15 CI and SBA-16 CI and fits well to the Langmuir isotherm equation.