Ultra-trace copper(II) detection and removal from wastewater using novel meso-adsorbent

The functionalized mesoporous silica based meso-adsorbent was developed for ultra-trace Cu(II) detection and removal from wastewater. The meso-adsorbent was fabricated by direct immobilization of N,N-bis(salicylidene)1,2-bis(2-aminophenylthio)ethane onto mesoporous silica monoliths. The calculated HOMO–LUMO small energy gap suggested that the electrons excitation according to the electron/energy transfer mechanism was evident in the intense of color complexation during selective detection and removal. The adsorbent was successfully applied in the determination and removal of Cu(II) ions in environmental samples. Therefore, the meso-adsorbent has been shown to have the potential to be used as an effective adsorbent for trace Cu(II) capturing from wastewater.