Synthesis of silica aerogel-SWCNT nano composites for adsorption application of toluene

Silica aerogel-single wall carbon nano tube (SWCNT) nano composites were synthesized with a water glass precursor. SWCNTs were used as reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of pure silica aerogels. The result shows that by adding SWCNTs to Silica aerogel, the specific area of prepared nano composite increases up to 825 m2g-1. Furthermore, excellent adsorption properties for the removal of toluene have been observed for the silica aerogels and nano composite. By using nano composite structure, the amount of adsorption for toluene increased from 56.71 to 58.72. The adsorption isotherm represent that synthesized adsorbents comply the Freundlich isotherm equation. The FESEM images indicated the aging of nano tubes on the silica aerogel and increase in the total volume of the pores in prepared nano composite

Keywords:

Silica aerogel , SWCNT , Nano composite , Adsorption , Toluene , Isotherm