Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur- 831007, India
School of Material Science and Engineering, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah, India
*Corresponding Author Email: santanu@nmlindia.org
Online published on 13 February, 2013.
Micron sized Fe(II)-silicate precipitation tube (FeIISPT) synthesized through ‘silica garden’ route has been characterized by different analytical techniques. These tubes are hollow, porous and hierarchially built from smaller tubules of 5–10 nm diameter. Morphology and chemical composition at the interior and exterior surface of these tubes differ remarkably. FeIISPT comprises significant amount of physically and chemically bound moisture. The isoelectric point of FeIISPT may be observed at pH 4.01 indicating the surface bearing surplus negative sites. FeIISPT appears to be a potential adsorbent of Hg(II), Zn(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II). Physico-chemical properties of FeIISPT have been compared with FeIIISPT.
Silica garden, Iron (II) silicate, Precipitation tube, Characterization