Abstract
Sol-gel processed silica materials which incorporated ionic liquids and tetraoctyldiglycolamide (TODGA) were prepared and used for extraction of La3+ and Ba2+ from aqueous solution. Imidazolium-based ionic liquids, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide ([Cnmim][NTf2]) were entrapped in the monolithic composite sorbents. Extraction efficiency was found to be dependent upon both the volume of IL used in the silica matrix, and the alkyl chain length of the IL cation. The silica composite sorbent containing [C8mim][NTf2] exhibited the best extraction efficiency for La3+ and the best separation factor for La3+ / Ba 2+. The results were analyzed by both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models, and the Freundlich model was found to give better fit.
