Ni-functionalized submicron mesoporous silica particles as a sorbent for metal affinity chromatography

Abstract In this research, a novel IMAC sorbent with high specificity for chlorine-containing compounds was developed. Ni-functionalized monodisperse spherical mesoporous silica particles of 500 ± 25 nm diameter were synthesized and their metal affinity properties were studied with the use of diclofenac as the model substance. The particles were aggregatively stable in the pH range of 3–12. The sorbent demonstrated a high adsorption capacity (0.60 ± 0.06 μg of DCF per 1 mg of the sorbent) and high adsorption/desorption rate (20 and 5 min was enough for the sorbent saturation and desorption of DCF, correspondingly). A mixture of eluents with addition of PFOS providing the almost complete recovery (98%) of diclofenac was first proposed. The monodispersity and the high sedimentation and aggregative stability of the particles provide the formation of a stable hydrosol even under ultrasound treatment which makes the mSiO 2 /Ni particles suitable for batch chromatography.