Synthesis of Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Networks Functionalized with Imidazole or Benzimidazole for Copper(II) Removal from Water

Functionalized elastomeric networks were obtained via a polycondensation reaction between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) containing Si(CH₃)₂OH as end groups and an imidazole- or benzimidazole-modified alkoxysilane. The structure of the polymeric materials was characterized via attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and solid-state ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, which indicated the presence of silsesquioxane units that acted as nodes on the PDMS chains and linked the functional groups. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the product indicated high thermal stability with an initial weight-loss temperature around 450 K. The capacity for the removal of copper(II) from aqueous solution was estimated from adsorption isotherms, yielding values of 35.74 and 66.09 mg g^-1, respectively, for benzimidazole-and imidazole-functionalized materials. The major adsorption models were evaluated to fit the removal data of copper(II) and the model elaborated by Sips was determined to provide the best fit for both prepared materials.

poly(dimethylsiloxane); imidazole; benzimidazole; elastomeric network; copper(II); adsorption