Patent ID: 8921504

Claim:
A method for removing an ionic species contained in an aqueous phase, the method comprising: contacting an aqueous phase containing an ionic species with a sol gel composite material, said sol gel composite material comprising, a sol gel composition obtained from: about 0 to about 60 mol % of at least one first precursor having the formula: (RO) x (R 2 ) y Si((R 1 )Si(R 2 ) y (OR) x ) z (1) where x is 2, 3 or 4, y is 0, 1 or 2 and z is 0 or 1, where said sum of x+y+z is 4, and where each R is independently a C 1 to C 6 alkyl, R 1 is an alkyl or aromatic bridging group and each R 2 is individually an organic group and from about 100 to about 40 mol % of at least one second precursor having the formula: (RO) 3- Si—(CH 2 ) n —Ar—(CH 2 ) m —Si—(OR) 3 (2) where n and m are individually an integer from 1 to 8, Ar is a single-, fused-, or poly-aromatic ring, and each R is independently an alkyl group as defined above and a reactive metal incorporated into at least a portion of said porous matrix, under conditions sufficient to remove said ionic species contained in said aqueous phase.