On the adsorption of toluene on amorphous mesoporous silicas with tunable sorption characteristics

The development of novel adsorbents for the purification of natural gas from aromatic hydrocarbons and the optimization of adsorption processes represent some of the most crucial environmental challenges. In this work, two amorphous mesoporous silica (AMS) samples with different sorption characteristics were prepared by modifying the synthesis method of amorphous mesoporous silica-aluminas, and tested as adsorbents of aromatic molecules for the purification of natural gas. The physico-chemical properties of the obtained materials were finely characterized by means of different experimental techniques (including FTIR and solid-state NMR) with the aim of determining their sorption and surface features. The adsorption capacity of the produced solids towards toluene, chosen as the reference of aromatic molecules, was determined by using FTIR, solid-state NMR spectroscopy and microgravimetric analysis. Finally, in view of applications under more realistic conditions, the adsorption properties of the AMS materials were also investigated after prolonged treatments in water.