Dye Adsorption Techniques Using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Summary
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have emerged as highly effective adsorbents for removing synthetic dyes from industrial effluents, owing to their large internal surface areas, uniform pore structures and facile surface functionalisation. Synthesis routes—such as hard-template, soft-template and one-pot condensation methods—yield a diverse range of MSNs with tunable pore sizes (typically 2–10 nm) and morphologies (spherical, dendritic or caged). Surface modification with amino, sulfonic or heteroatom moieties enhances selective interactions with cationic or anionic dye molecules through electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions. Adsorption kinetics frequently conform to a pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data are described by Langmuir or Freundlich isotherms, reflecting monolayer or heterogeneous surface binding, respectively. Optimisation of pH, ionic strength and contact time can yield removal efficiencies exceeding 95 per cent within minutes. Importantly, many MSNs demonstrate good recyclability over multiple cycles, underscoring their promise for scalable wastewater treatment and sustainable remediation of textile and dye-processing effluents.
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Dye Adsorption Techniques Using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dye adsorption techniques using mesoporous silica nanoparticles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs): Silica-based particles featuring pores of 2–50 nm diameter that provide high internal surface area for adsorption processes.
Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area: A measurement of the total surface area of a material determined by nitrogen gas adsorption, expressed in m² g⁻¹.
Pseudo-second-order kinetic model: A kinetic description assuming that the rate-limiting step involves chemisorption between adsorbate and adsorbent.
Freundlich isotherm: An empirical model describing adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces, where adsorption capacity varies with concentration.
ζ-potential: The electric potential at the slipping plane of a particle in suspension, indicating surface charge and colloidal stability.
References
- Adsorption of Dyes from Wastewater: A Comprehensive Review. ChemBioEng Reviews (2023).
- Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous caged silica for efficient adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer (2024).
- Design of Nickel-Containing Nanocomposites Based on Ordered Mesoporous Silica: Synthesis, Structure, and Methylene Blue Adsorption. Gels (2024).
- Tailoring of Mesoporous Silica-Based Materials for Enhanced Water Pollutants Removal. Molecules (2023).
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