Abstract
A hierarchical porous zirconium phosphate membrane was prepared from bis(hexamethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid)), ZrOCl2 center dot 8H(2)O, SiF4 and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. The membrane contains macropores of 200 nm in diameter, and mesopores of 19.2 nm in diameter. The membranes pores were bridged and limited by (-Si-O-)(n) edges. The porous membrane exhibited high efficiency in removing Pb2+ and Cu2+ from wastewater.