Laponite functionalized with biuret and melamine – Application to adsorption of antibiotic trimethoprim

Abstract

[EN]Laponite-aminosilane hybrid materials have been prepared by reaction of a chlorosilane, (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane, with two aminated compounds, namely, biuret and melamine. The resulting compounds were used for the functionalisation of laponite, using two synthesis procedures. The hybrid materials thus formed were fully characterised and tested for the adsorption of the antibiotic Trimethoprim (trimethoxybenzyl-2,4-pyrimidinediamine). The characterisation results showed that functionalisation was successful, and the adsorption experiments showed a high affinity of the hybrid materials for the removal of Trimethoprim, with removal percentages larger than 80%.