Capturing nitrosamines in tobacco-extract solution by hydrophobic mesoporous silica

Adsorption of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) by the functionalized MCM-48 mesoporous silica in tobacco-extract solution was studied using batch experiments, in order to explore the new strategy enhancing the efficiency of molecular sieve in the solution with complex composition. The techniques of XRD, N 2 adsorption–desorption at 77 K, 29Si MAS NMR, 27Al MAS NMR and TG–DSC together with FTIR were used to inspect the mesoporous adsorbents. The hydrophobic character of adsorbent is crucial for the adsorption of TSNA in aqueous solution, and the organic 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane (CPTES) was employed to functionalize the ordered porous silica through direct co-condensation and post-synthesis grafting methods. Besides, aluminum is also incorporated into the framework of MCM-48 to enhance the adsorption capability of nitrosamines. As the result, about 70% of TSNA can be removed by the chloropropyl-modified Al-containing mesoporous silica, obviously exceeded that by activated carbon, offering the new efficient adsorbents for environment protection.