Authors: Santos, SML; Cecilia, JA; Vilarrasa-Garcia, E; Garcia-Sancho, C; Silva, IJ; Rodriguez-Castellon, E; Azevedo, DCS

Article.
Microporous Mesoporous Mat.. vol: 260. page: 1387-1811.
Date: APR. 2018.
Doi: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2017.10.044.

Abstract:
The traditional SBA-15 was modified using pore 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene as pore expander to be evaluated in the adsorption of biomolecules bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cellulase (CEL). In order to study the influence of the acidity in the biomolecules adsorption, porous silicas with molar ratio in a range between 5 and 15 were synthesized. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption-desorption at -196 degrees C, NH3 thermoprogrammed desorption, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, their adsorption capacity for BSA and CEL was evaluated in batch experiments at 25 degrees C. The obtained data revealed that BSA adsorption is well-fitted to the Toth model in all adsorbents, while CEL adsorption is well-adjusted to the Henry model. In both cases, the adsorbent with a molar ratio Si/Zr = 15 and pore expander reached the highest adsorption values and showed high desorption capacity..