Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous SBA-15 Using Different Dispersing Agents

Abstract

Abstract Spherical mesoporous SBA-15 with a high surface area was successfully synthesized using hydrothermal method. Pluronic p123 triblock co-polymer was utilized as a directing agent, sodium silicate prepared from Iraqi silica sand was considered a silica precursor, and (1–3) g of different dispersing agents of PVA, PVP, and SDS were applied. The prepared SBA-15 characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), atomic force microscope (AFM), nitrogen adsorption desorption using Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The X-ray diffraction pattern indicated to pure SBA-15 single peak at (2Ɵ= 20–250), and FTIR spectroscopy represented the main functional groups of (Si = O), (Si-O-Si), and (Si-OH). The dispersing agents influenced the surface area ranging from 349 to 871 cm2/g, pore volume from 0.17 to 0.43 cm3/g, and the pore size from 2 to 2.5 nm. The highest surface area, and pore volume were obtained using 2g of PVP dispersing agent. The deformation of the spherical morphology of SBA-15 particles occurred beyond the addition of 1g of dispersing agents.