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Optimized caged silica synthesis with lithium chloride and calcium chloride impregnation for prospective desalination application

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Abstract

In twentieth century, nations are dealing with several problems related to fresh water availability that needs to be addressed at the earliest. Adsorption desalination by employing inorganic caged silica could be a feasible approach to address this pressing issue. Caged Silica is an inorganic sorbent that is widely employed in a variety of applications, including catalysts, thermal insulation, energy storage batteries, and as an adsorbent in the extraction of fresh water. Researchers have devised several techniques to prepare mono-dispersed caged silica with standard morphology. Template synthesis is quite prominent due to its structural stability and versatility. In this article, we present synthesis of caged silica microsphere via hard template synthesis by employing the process of calcination and subsequent drying. Emulsion polymerization was utilized to develop the polystyrene required in the procedure. This study also looks at how different parameters like silica precursor, surfactant, and catalyst affect silica morphology. We also impregnated Caged silica with 9% of hygroscopic salts (CaCl2 and LiCl) and it showed substantial uptake improvement. Preliminary results showed that LiCl impregnated caged silica is more efficient at water uptake compared to CaCl2.The proposed composite adsorbent (Si-9-Li & Si-9-Ca) could be a step** stone for improvement in the field of desalination, specifically in adsorbent development, and open new doors to exploration and reliability.

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  • 04 February 2024

    The original online version of this article was revised: The email address of the author Muhammad Wakil Shahzad has been changed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank RAEng / Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowships Tranche 19 for FAM project (LTRF2223-19-103), Northumbria University UK and Northern Accelerator Proof-of-Concept award for AD4DCs (NACCF-232) Awarded to Dr. Muhammad Wakil Shahzad. The authors also would like to thank to KAUST cooling initiative (REP/1/3988-01-01) for the support provided.

Funding

KAUST cooling initiative, REP/1/3988-01-01, Northumbria University UK and Northern Accelerator Proof-of-Concept award for AD4DCs, NACCF-232

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering, GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, KP, Pakistan

    Sundus Khushnood & Javaid Rabbani Khan

  2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Kim Choon Ng & M. Kum Ja

  3. Department of Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK

    Muhammad Imran

  4. Mechanical and Construction Engineering Department, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK

    Muhammad Wakil Shahzad

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  1. Sundus Khushnood
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  2. Javaid Rabbani Khan
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  4. M. Kum Ja
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SK and JRK wrote the main manuscript. KCN and MKJ helped with the experimental results. MI and MWS provided the guidance for research. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Wakil Shahzad.

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Khushnood, S., Khan, J.R., Ng, K.C. et al. Optimized caged silica synthesis with lithium chloride and calcium chloride impregnation for prospective desalination application. J Porous Mater 31, 625–641 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10934-023-01536-x

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