VOC adsorption on raw and modified clay materials

The porous texture of clays gives them a capital interest for a possible use in the elimination of environment contamination by the adsorption of several pollutants. The material used in the present study is taken from the Douiret formation in Tataouine in the south of Tunisia. Besides, the modification of the clay material was made by intercalation of the didodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide. Such intercalation allows the enhancement of the porous texture of the material in question, which supports its uses in the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furthermore, the adsorption isotherms showed that the intercalation of the didodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide on clay material improved its adsorption capacity for toluene, cyclohexane and chlorobenzene to reach 2, 2.5 and 3.5 mg g(-1) respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.