Synthesis and characterization of bentonite based inorgano-organo-composites and their performances for removing arsenic from water

Four modifiers, amorphous iron (hydr)oxides (Fe-x(OH)(y)), manganese oxides (MnxOy) and cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB), and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC), were used to synthesize single and complex modified bentonite. Arsenic removal by modified bentonite was investigated through effects of the type, combination and adding level of modifiers. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N-2 adsorption-desorption were used to explore the characteristics of the original and modified bentonite. It was found that the type, combination and adding amount of modifiers would have a noticeable influence on the structure and adsorption behavior of resulting bentonite adsorbents. The complex modified bentonite, with manganese oxides and then PDMDAAC at proper addition level, showed the best adsorption properties for arsenic, which could be due to a synergistic effect between PDMDAAC and manganese oxides during modification process. PDMDAAC was found to be favorable for coating of manganese oxides onto bentonite. The adsorbing capacity of modified bentonite depended not only on specific surface area (SSA), but mainly on composite components and/or their specific surface properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.