"Science Stays True Here" Biological and Chemical Research, Volume 2015, 312-319 | Science Signpost Publishing Room Temperature Amine Surface Modification of Synthesized Microporous Carbon Spheres Mohammed Salisu Musa 1,3,* , Mohd Marsin Sanagi 1,2 , Hadi Nur 2 and Nor Suhaila Mohamad Hanapi 1,4 1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. 2. Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Researches, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. 3. Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. 4. Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Received: August 12, 2015 / Accepted: September 11, 2015 / Published: October 25, 2015 Abstract: Carbon spheres (CSs) were hydrothermally synthesized using sucrose as precursor. The synthesized CSs were activated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) until a substantial micropore structure was achieved. The surfaces of the microporous carbon spheres (MCSs) were further modified with amine groups at room temperature using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nitrogen Adsorption measurements were used to characterize the CSs, MCSs and the reaction product of MCSs with 3-APTES (3-APTES-MCSs). Results indicate the presence of Si-O-Si and -NH 2 groups on the surfaces of the 3-APTES-MCSs. The surface modified product can be utilized as an adsorbent for the extraction of nitrogen-containing contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) from environmental samples. Keywords: Microporous carbon spheres, hydrothermal reaction, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, sucrose, surface modification 1. Introduction Carbon sphere (CS) is a simple word that is generally referred to carbons with a spherical or closely spherical structure. These materials are held together by Van der Waals forces which result into agglomerated collections of the materials. The discovery of spherical carbon materials has received much attention due to their controllable sizes, minimal surface energy, morphologies, and chemical properties [1]. Carbon materials having sphere shape have become familiar for the past years and their properties have been employed in Corresponding author: Mohammed Salisu Musa, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Email: m_smusa@yahoo.com.