Novel composite material for selective copper(II) detection and removal from aqueous media

The mesoporous composite material (MeCM) was fabricated using functional organic ligand of 2-methyl-8-quinolinol immobilization onto the porous silica by direct conjugation and employed as an effective material for the detection and removal of copper (Cu(II)) ion from aqueous media. The material characterization was evaluated in detail to understand the material morphology for complexation during the Cu(II) ion capturing. The variation of pH solution, reaction time, detection limit, initial Cu(II) concentration and competing ion parameters were measured systematically. The MeCM was sensitively evolved the color upon addition of Cu(II) ion even in the low concentration level. The detection limit was 0.33 μg/L. The solution pH was highly influenced both in the detection and adsorption operation. However, the neutral pH 7.0 was…