Synthesis of hyperbranched polyamine dendrimer/chitosan/silica composite for efficient adsorption of Hg(II)

The pollution of water system with Hg(II) exerts hazardous effect to ecosystem and public health. Adsorption is considered to be a promising strategy to remove Hg(II) from aqueous solution. Herein, hyperbranched polyamine dendrimer/chitosan/silica composite (SiO₂-FP) was synthesized for the adsorption of aqueous Hg(II). The adsorption performance of SiO₂-FP was comprehensively determined by considering various influencing factors. SiO₂-FP displays good adsorption performance for Hg(II) with the adsorption capacity of 0.79 mmol·g^-1, which is higher than the corresponding chitosan functionalized silica (SiO₂-CTS) by 46.30 %. The optimal solution pH for the adsorption of Hg(II) is 6. Adsorption kinetic indicates the adsorption for Hg(II) can reach equilibrium at 250 min. Adsorption kinetic process can be well fitted by pseudo-second-order (PSO). Adsorption isotherm reveals the adsorption for Hg(II) can be promoted by increasing initial Hg(II) concentration and adsorption temperature. The adsorption isotherm indicates the adsorption process can be described by Langmuir model and the adsorption is a spontaneous, endothermic and entropy-increased process. SiO₂-FP displays excellent adsorption selectivity and can 100 % adsorb Hg(II) with the coexisting of Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), and Co(II). Adsorption mechanism demonstrates -NH-, -NH₂, CN, CONH, -OH, and CO participated in the adsorption. SiO₂-FP exhibits good regeneration property and the regeneration rate can maintain approximately 90 % after five adsorption-desorption cycles.