Remediation of heavy metals from soil using quartz sand functionalized with organic amino silanes

The results of the research studies concerning the binding of heavy metals (HMs) by quartz sand functionalized with amino silanes have been described. The studies have been carried out on soils sampled from the areas affected by emissions from Copper Smelter and Refinery. The research aims to increase the food safety in the areas of industrial impact. The presence of polyamine chain in the hybrid materials obtained enables a binding of heavy metals (nickel, copper, cobalt). The best results are observed for the hybrid material having four amine groups (four coordination centers) per molecule. For this material the highest content after two extraction cycles (pH 7.0 and 5.0) is observed for copper (98.2%), but for other ions (nickel, cobalt) it is at least 85% of the initial amount of components available for plants.