Synthesis, characterization, and application of pristine and clay-templated carbon xerogel microspheres for removing diclofenac and heavy metals from water solution

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-03, Vol.30 (12), p.34684-34697
• Main Authors: Carrales-Alvarado, Damarys H, Leyva Ramos, Roberto, Bailón-García, Esther, Carrasco-Marín, Francisco, Villela-Martinez, Diana E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cadmium; carbon; catalysts; cation exchange; Clay; diclofenac; Diclofenac - chemistry; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; emulsions; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Metals, Heavy - chemistry; microparticles; Microspheres; polymerization; Research Article; sepiolite; sodium; surface area; synergism; vermiculite; Waste Water Technology; Water; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollution Control; xerogels
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24615-z

Organic xerogel microspheres (SX) were synthesized by inverse emulsion sol–gel polymerization and carbonized to obtain carbon xerogel spheres (SXCs). The catalyst was K 2 CO 3 or Fe(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 , and the clay sodium sepiolite (SNa) or exfoliated vermiculite (V exf ) was added during the synthesis. Depending on the catalyst and clays, the SXCs were designated SXC-K, SXC-Fe, V exf -K, V exf -Fe, SNa-Fe, and SNa-K. At pH = 7 and T  = 25 °C, the SXCs’ adsorption capacities towards diclofenac (DCF) in water increased as follows: SXC-K