Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocomposite Acrylamide TIN(IV) Silicomolybdate: Photocatalytic Activity and Chromatographic Column Separations

Abstract

A nanocomposite acrylamide tin(IV) silicomolybdate (AC/TSMNC) was chemically synthesized by the sol–gel technique in surfactant medium at room temperature. The synthesis conditions, such as reactant concentrations, pH and temperature were varied to optimize the ion exchange properties of the nanocomposite ion exchange material. The ion exchange capacity was found to be 1.92 meq/g for Na⁺. The nanocomposite was characterized on the basis of chemical composition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The interpretation of the XRD pattern indicated its semi-crystalline nature. The diamond shape morphology was observed in SEM studies. The particle size of the material was in the range of 50‒100 nm as indicated by TEM. Sorption studies were performed in a number of solvent systems showing high selectivity for Pb(II) and Ni(II) in synthetic mixtures. On the basis of distribution coefficient studies several binary separations of metal ions, viz. Mg²⁺–Pb²⁺, Mg²⁺–Ni²⁺, Sr²⁺–Pb²⁺, Sr²⁺–Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺–Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺–Ni²⁺ were achieved quantitatively on acrylamide tin(IV) silicomolybdate columns. The quantitative separation of Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ was also achieved on a commercially available pharmaceutical formulation (Rxplus). Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye onto AC/TSMNC was investigated for 3.5 h under solar light at a wavelength of 664 nm. The rate of methylene blue dye photodegradation onto AC/TSMNC was found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.