title: A waste-derived biosurfactant for the preparation of templated silica powders.
abstract: A polymeric anionic biosurfactant isolated from urban bio-wastes was used as a template for fabricating silica powders of pore size ranging from 4 to 30 nm by the sol-gel reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane at pH 5. The morphology of the synthesized silica powders was found to depend on the size and the conformation of the biosurfactant molecules or aggregates in solution. The use of waste-derived biosurfactants as templating agents reduces the fabrication costs and the environmental impact of mesoporous materials. At the same time, it encourages the upgrade of bio-wastes from a costly disposal matter to a source of chemicals and therefore, of revenue.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Generale e Chimica Organica, Università di Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boffa
authors.forename: Daniele G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montoneri
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magnacca
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertinetti
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garlasco
authors.forename: Raniero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendichi
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002947:Cities; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D016062:Porosity; D011208:Powders; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012621:Seasons; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D011208:Powders; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012822:Silicon Dioxide