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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 January 2011
A sol-gel derived organosilica material that energetically swells when exposed to organic molecules was tested as a means to extract dissolved organic species from water. Swellable organically modified silica (SOMS) was demonstrated to be effective at removing butanol, methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE), tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, ethanol, and toluene from lab grade water, salt water, and natural waters. Partition coefficients for the absorption of organic species from water by SOMS ranged from 2.8�105 – 1.0�102, and vary depending on polarity of the contaminant, concentration, and the total mass of contaminant absorbed. Absorption of organic species to SOMS appears to be enhanced by matrix expansion of nanometer sized pores leading to non-selective capture of organics beyond what could be attributed to physisorption.