Preparation for hierarchical porous materials using mine tailings

Abstract

Hierarchical porous materials containing meso and macro pores have been successfully prepared by using mine tailings. Firstly, mesoporous silica SBA-15 was synthesized using the silicate extracted from mine tailings. And then, macroporous ceramic beads were prepared by mine tailings as a starting material. Finally, surface of porous beads was coated with SBA-15 by wet impregnation method. The physicochemical properties of hierarchical porous materials were characterized by surface area analysis, infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. As a result, the BET surface area of SBA-15 and porous ceramic beads was >500 m2/g and >0.7 m2/g respectively. After impregnation, the increase of BET surface area for coated porous beads was identified (<52 m2/g). Therefore, it can be used by adsorbents of metal ions for selective recovery.