High-Performance Adsorption of 4-Nitrophenol onto Calix[6]arene-Tethered Silica from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

The polymeric calix[6]arene-tethered silica (C[6]TS) was prepared by the tethering of p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene onto 3-glycidoxypropyl-bonded stationary phase. The structural and composition analysis of the C[6]TS was performed by FTIR, XRD, TGA, and SEM techniques. C[6]TS was used as an adsorbent for the removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from aqueous solutions. Initial adsorption experiments demonstrated that C[6]TS showed outstanding performance for the removal of 4-NP. So it exhibited rapid and effective adsorption with a %83 yield within ten minutes. Subsequently, some adsorption criteria such as pH, initial concentration, contact time, sorbent dosage, and temperature were evaluated in detail. Thus, adsorption phenomena of 4-NP onto C[6]TS were clarified in this way.