Recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions using modified organosilicas

Sorption of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions on two-component organosilicas was studied as influenced by sorbent composition, contact time, ratio of solid and liquid phases, solution pH, nature and concentration of heavy metal ions, and content of modifying agent. The degrees of sorption of these metal ions from aqueous solutions using organosilicas modified with aluminum(III) added into the siloxane matrix or with copper(II) grafted to the sorbent surface layer were compared.