Synthesis and characterization of cubic mesoporous bridged polysilsesquioxane for removing organic pollutants from water.

Hexane, octane, phenyl, and biphenyl-bridged bis(triethoxysilyl) precursors were used in synthesizing cubic mesoporous bridged polysilsesquioxane (BPS) copolymers. Structural characterization was carried out by FTIR, small angle XRD, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-N2 sorption, (1)H NMR, and TEM. We successfully synthesized both "rigid" and "soft" 3D cubic mesoporous BPS with high surface area and pore volume, as attested by the comprehensive characterization data. Adsorption of pyrene, phenanthrene, nitrobenzene, and 2,4-dichlorophenol on BPS was greatly affected by adsorbate properties, i.e., Kow, solvation properties and molecular size. Hydrophobic interaction dominantly controlled organic pollutants' sorption on BPS. Other interactions, e.g., π-π and H-bond interactions, also have effects on sorption as indicated by Kow normalized sorption isotherms. Rigid aromatic BPS (phenyl and biphenyl) showed a higher sorption capacity than soft aliphatic BPS (hexane and octane). A conceptual model was proposed to further explain the phenomena. This study suggests a promising application of cubic mesoporous BPS in wastewater treatment.