| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for producing a sorbent material, comprising firstly providing a porous silica substrate, said substrate comprising a plurality of silanol groups on a surface thereof, then reacting said silanol groups with either a silicon compound of formula R n Si(OR') 4-n , where R is an alkyl group and n is 0 or 1, or an aminoalkyl silane of formula R" m R n Si(OR') 4-n-m having at least two hydrolysable groups attached to silicon, where R" is an aminoalkyl group, m is 1 or 2 and n is 0 or ls or a compound of formula M(OR') 4 , or a mixture of any two or more of the preceding compounds, hydrolysing the product, men reacting hydroxyl groups formed with one or more reagents, wherein each reagent is independently selected from the group consisting of an aminoalkyl silane having at least two hydrolysable groups attached to the silicon and a compound of formula M(OR') 4 , and finally hydrolysing the product, wherein each OR' independently is a hydrolysable group and each M independently is Zr, Ti, Hf, Sn, Th, Pb or Ge. There is also described a sorbent material and use of a sorbent material for purifying, separating and concentrating processes. |