Trace copper(II) ions detection and removal from water using novel ligand modified composite adsorbent

A highly selective mesoporous composite adsorbent is proposed for simultaneous detection and removal of Cu(II) ions in natural waters. The adsorbent was developed using the synthesized ligand 3-(((5-ethoxybenzenethiol)imino)methyl)-salicylic acid (EBMS) immobilization onto mesoporous silica monoliths. The data clarified the nitrogen donor atom in EBMS ligand made the strong and stable complexation mechanism with Cu(II) ions during detection and removal systems. Therefore, Cu(II) bonding with EBMS to enhance color formation and make the ligand as metal-ligand [Cu(II)-EBMS]n+ complexes. The solid material has spherical cavities to showed the rapid response and transport of Cu(II) to network sites easily with high sorption efficiency without loss of cage cavities. The influence of pH, kinetics parameters, limit of detection, Cu(II) sorption capacity, bond distances between ligand and Cu(II) and the effect of eluent for the stripping of Cu(II) ion from adsorbent over elution efficiency were evaluated. The adsorbent offered a simple procedure in ultra-trace Cu(II) sensing optically without using high tech instruments. The adsorbent offered a simple procedure in ultra-trace Cu(II) sensing optically without using high tech instruments. The data also revealed that the adsorbent exhibited high sorption capacity (182.15mg/g) and extreme high selectivity in high concentration ionic competition. The adsorbent materials has retaining their functionality in terms of Cu(II) detection and recovery after multiple reuse cycles without deterioration in its significant performances. Moreover, the present adsorbent was successfully applied to the determination, removal and elution Cu(II) ions in environmental samples. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.