Enhanced adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol from aqueous solution using modified low cost Algerian geomaterial

Natural geological material (GM) (CEC = 21 meq/100 g, S-BET = 3.39 m(2)/g), available in large amount in Timimoun (South Algeria), was modified with an ammonium quaternary dodecyl- and cetyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB and CTAB, respectively). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the natural geomaterial represents mainly muscovite mica; and organic molecules salts were not intercalated in the interlayers; the modification process was thus limited to the surface. Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous solution via batch sorption experiments onto GM, GM-DTAB, and GM-CTAB was investigated. The results show increased 2,4-DCP adsorption on the GM composites compared to natural GM. The maximum uptake occurred at pH = 6, a contact time of 60 min, and an adsorbent dose of 4 g/L. The surface modification of muscovite by quaternary ammonium bromide and sequential adsorption of 2,4-DCP were also evaluated by XRD and FTIR. The kinetic adsorption data were in good agreement with a pseudo-second-order model. Freundlich adsorption model was best to describe adsorption equilibrium data for 2,4-DCP onto GM-DTAB and in the case of GM-CTAB, experimental data agree well with the Langmuir isotherm model. The monolayer adsorption capacity (q(m)) was 110.75 mg/g for GM-DTAB, 239.8 mg/g for GM-CTAB, and 354.6 mg/g for activated carbon. (C) 2017 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.