Adsorption of benzoic acid and hydroquinone by organically modified bentonites

Two organobentonites (ODTMA-B, HDTMA-B) were synthesized using hexadecyltrimethyle ammonium bromide (HDTMAB) and octadecyltrimethyle ammonium bromide (ODTMAB). Synthesized organobentonites were characterized by X-ray diffraction particle size, and surface area analysis. Particle size analyses of the original bentonite and organobentonites showed that the organobentonites contained a greater number of coarse particles than present in the original bentonite. While the basal spacings of the organobentonites increased organic cation, the surface area decreased. To evaluate the potential use of two modified bentonites in removing organic pollutants such as benzoic acid and hydroquinone from water, adsorption experiments were performed under conditions of varied pH (3, 6 and 11) and temperatures (298 and 313 K). Experimental results showed that the sorption capacities increase with decreasing pH value and increasing temperature. The adsorption equilibrium of benzoic acid and hydroquinone on organobentonites was described by the Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. It was concluded that the isotherm shapes were not affected by pH and temperature. Adsorption capacity of ODTMA-B for benzoic acid was higher compared to that of HDTMA-B at various pH and temperatures. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.