Two novel adsorbents synthesized by sol-gel process for removing of 4- nitrophenol from aqueous solutions

In this work, a new titanium alkoxide complex [titanium(IV)-n-propoxide-(4- nitrophenoxide)] was synthesized by the reaction between titanium(IV)-n- propoxide [Ti(OPr super(n)) sub(4)] and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in different mole ratios at room temperature. GC, FT-IR and super(1)H-NMR analyses showed that each Ti(OPr super(n)) sub(4) mole reacts with 2 moles of 4-NP in maximum. This complex was hydrolyzed with 2 moles water per mole of Ti(OPr super(n)) sub(4), and hydrolysis products were characterized by thermal analyses and FT-IR. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of 4-NP on the calcinated powder from its aqueous solutions were determined. Adsorption experiments showed that the calcinated powder is a quite suitable material for the removal of 4-NP.