Organobentonite: Characterization and Adsorptive Properties towards Phenol and its Derivatives

Abstract

Bentonite from Mecji Do locality in Serbia was modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br), and the sample was denoted as HDTMA-MD. The characterization of the material included X-Ray diffraction, elemental analysis and point of zero charge determination. The adsorption of phenol and its nitro derivatives: 2-nitrophenol (2NP), 3-nitrophenol (3NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4NP) on HDTMA-MD was investigated. The adsorption capacity of HDTMA-MD toward phenol derivatives increased in the following order q(e) (phenol) LT q(e) (3NP) LT q(e) (2NP) LT q(e) (4NP). The influence of adsorption time and initial concentration on the adsorption efficiency of HDTMA-MD was studied for 4NP. The data were best fitted with Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.