Synthesis of antimicrobial cationic amphiphile functionalized mesocellular silica foam prepared on hard template/support activated carbon for enhanced simultaneous removal of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions

Abstract A new mesocellular silica foam (MCSiF) were successfully formed on the surface of activated carbon (AC) and subsequently for increases of surface and pours area of samples the AC was removed by calcination and products was functionalized by polymixin B as an antimicrobial cationic amphiphile agent. The synthesis samples structures were characterized with several techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), filed emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. Functionalized MCSiF exhibits enhanced performance for removal of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solution. The central composite design (CCD) was used to find out the main and interaction effect of operational factors (initial Cu(II) and Zn(II) concentration (7–35 mg L −1 ), pH values (3.5–9.5), adsorbent mass (5–45 mg) and sonication time (0.5–6.5 min)) on Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions removal efficiency and subsequently optimized the operating variables condition by desirability function method under CCD. The obtained experimental data were analyzed by Pareto chart, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and second-order polynomial models. The maximum removal efficiencies of 99.99% and 99.987% was obtained for Cu(II) Zn(II) at optimize condition set as at 20 mg L −1 of Cu(II), 15 mg L −1 of Zn(II) ions, 4 min sonication time, 40 mg adsorbent mass and pH value of 6.5.