Enhancing clay adsorption properties: A comparison between chemical and combined chemical/thermal treatments

A Moroccan bentonite was activated by sodium carbonate (Na-Be), and by a combined chemical and thermal activation (Na-Be450). The materials characterization was performed by XRD, EDS, FTIR, SEM and porosity measurements. The efficiency of Na-Be and Na-Be450 as low-cost adsorbents to remove nickel and silver from aqueous solution was checked. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich models were used for the analysis of equilibrium isotherms. Na-Be and Na-Be450 demonstrated a good removal efficiency towards nickel and silver, even in complex effluents (industrials wastewaters). The regeneration study proved that Na-Be450 presented all the characteristics of an efficient material for nickel removal.

Automated summary

The study successfully activated Moroccan bentonite using sodium carbonate and a combined chemical and thermal activation method for efficient removal of nickel and silver from aqueous solution, even in complex industrial wastewaters. The results suggest that the Na-Be450 material shows potential as an efficient adsorbent for nickel removal.