ACCESS IN MESOPOROUS MATERIALS - ADVANTAGES OF A UNIFORM PORE STRUCTURE IN THE DESIGN OF A HEAVY-METAL ION ADSORBENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

The access of guest species to the binding sites of adsorbents determi nes the metal-binding capacity of materials, which is important for ex ample in environmental remediation efforts. It is shown that MP-HMS, t he mercaptopropylsilane-functionalized derivative of the molecular sie ve HMS, with its regular pore structure is a much better Hg2+ absorben t than silica gels, in which functionalization leads to pore blocking (see Figure).