Abstract. N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) represents a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. The ecological risks include potential risk to terrestrial and aquatic plants and birds, and low toxicity to honeybees. It is frequently detected at low levels in both urban and rural surface waters. Efficient technologies are currently unavailable for glyphosate removal from waters. SBA-3 mesoporous silica-based material was synthesized and studied for the glyphosate removal from water. The obtained silica material was characterized by FTIR, SEM, TG, BET surface area and pore size distribution measurements. In order to elucidate specific interactions between the mesoporous silica and glyphosate via phosphoric group, a surface functionalization with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was performed. It was observed a quantitative adsorption and a complete recovery of the adsorbent, which can be regenerated and reused with unaltered performances for at least five cycles.

Acknowledgements: The work has been funded by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, NUCLEU Program-Financing Contract no. 9N/2019, under Project PN 19 11 03 01 “Studies on the obtaining and improvement of the acido-basic properties of the nanoporous catalytic materials for application in wastes valorization”.