Fabricating hydrophobic nanoparticles within mesoporous channel of silica for efficient TSNA removal

Based on the synthesis of super hydrophobic silicic xerogel (SG) from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and dimethyldimethoxysilane (DMDMS), siliceous hydrophobic nanoparticles were fabricated within the mesoporous channels of SBA-15, in order to enhance the efficiency of adsorbing tobacco specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) in aqueous solution. The concentration of precursor solution was adjusted to master the distribution of hydrophobic particles and the mean hydrophobicity of resulting composite, 150% increasing the capacity of SBA-15 in liquid adsorption of TSNA.