2.3. Synthesis of ethylenediamine functionalized SBA-15 (en-SBA)
en-SBAwas synthesized according to the procedure in the literature
(Fig. 1) [22]: SBA-15 was dried at 100 °C under vacuum for 3 h. A
mixture containing dry SBA-15 (5 g) and dry toluene (100mL) was
degassed by argon and reached to the reflux temperature. N-(2-
Aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (1.67×10−2 mol, 4 mL)
was injected to the reaction mixture by a syringe. Reflux was continued
for 12 h under inert atmosphere. The mixturewas filtered and soxhleted
under inert atmospherewith toluene for 48 h. Finally the purple powder
product was filtered and dried at room temperature under vacuum.