Comparison between the removal of phenol and catechol by modified montmorillonite with two novel hydroxyl-containing Gemini surfactants

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2014-02, Vol.267, p.71-80
• Main Authors: Liu, Yuening, Gao, Manglai, Gu, Zheng, Luo, Zhongxin, Ye, Yage, Lu, Laifu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Algorithms; Alkenes - chemistry; Applied sciences; Bentonite - chemistry; Catechol; Catechols - chemistry; Chemical engineering; Diffusion; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydroxyl-containing Gemini surfactants; Ion Exchange; Kinetics; Models, Chemical; Montmorillonite; Phenol; Phenols - chemistry; Pollution; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Thermodynamics; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.12.039

•Organo-clays were prepared by two novel hydroxyl-containing Gemini surfactants.•The kinetics and thermodynamics of the novel organo-clays were studied.•The hydroxyl group of organo-clays can increase the adsorption capacity.•BHHP-Mt was proved to be a high-efficiency adsorbent to remove phenols. Na-montmorillonites were modified with two novel hydroxyl-containing Gemini surfactants, 1,3-bis(hexadecyldimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane dichloride (BHHP) and 1,3-bis(octyldimethylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane dichloride (BOHP), via ion-exchange reaction in this study. The modified samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Phenol and catechol were removed from aqueous solution by these two kinds of organo-montmorillonites in a batch system. Important parameters have been investigated, which affect the adsorption efficiency, such as the amount of modifier, temperature, pH and contact time. The adsorption kinetics of phenol and catechol were discussed using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion model. It indicated that the experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the equilibrium adsorption data was proved in good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm. The result also showed the adsorption capacity of catechol was higher than that of phenol in the same conditions, which might result from the extra hydroxyl in the structure of catechol. Thermodynamic quantities such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), the enthalpy (ΔH°), and the entropy change of sorption (ΔS°) were also determined. These parameters suggested the adsorption of phenol was a spontaneous and exothermic process, while the sorption of catechol was endothermic.