LAUSR

Abstract Multiple organic compounds pose a threat to human health. Here we report on the synthesis of a novel nanostructured absorbent, mesoporous colloidal silica particles (pore size of ~3 nm, surface area >1100 m2/g, discoid-shaped and microns in size) that can be an effective sorbent for organic compounds due to their large surface area. The particle surface is hydrophobized through a trimethylchlorosilane treatment, which was controlled on the level of bulk (TGA analysis) and single particles (confocal Raman spectroscopy). We present the results of the study of the sorption of ten organic compounds of various molecular size and polarity. It is found that our particles can absorb some organic compounds from water up to more than 100% by weight. No substantial dependence of the sorption efficiency on the molecular size was found. Despite a complex nanoscale environment, it was found that the sorption efficiency inversely correlates with the polarity of the organic components, which is similar to the classical sorbents. Further, we demonstrate a strong correlation between the presence of hydrophobic groups and the absorbed compound with a submicron resolution by means of confocal Raman microscopy. This knowledge can be used to design new efficient absorbents.