Utilization of bentonite and Its modification for sorption

The problem of removing pollutants from water is an important process and is becoming more important with the increase of industrial activities. There are several methods to treat metal contaminated effluent. Adsorption is one of the more popular methods for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Low cost adsorbents are preferred in the purification process. For this reason, industrial wastes and mining by-products are used. Bentonite is a raw material extracted during brown coal mining in the Czech Republic. Bentonite has optimal sorption properties for its use as an adsorbent. This approach ensures the improvement of the economic effectiveness of mining and helps prevent its accumulation in the environment. Intercalation with octadecylamine in different weight ratios and natrification by 1M solution of sodium chloride were used for improving the sorption properties (the interlayer space, surface area, ion-exchange capacity) of bentonite sample. Prepared materials - modified samples of bentonite and its raw form - were tested as potential adsorbents for heavy metals adsorption. This paper summarizes the results of lead and copper adsorption on a raw bentonite sample and its modifications. These samples were used for the adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from the synthetically prepared waste water.

Badania dotyczyły możliwości usuwania jonów Pb2+ and Cu2+ z roztworów wodnych w procesie sorpcji na bentonicie oraz możliwości modyfikacji tego procesu. Próbki bentonitu pochodziły ze złoża Branany - Cerny Vrch w Republice Czeskiej. Próbki składały się głównie z montmorylonitu, kwarcu i syderytu; właściwości sorpcyjne były modyfikowane w procesie interkalacji (kompleksowanie za pomoca octadecylaminy) oraz za pomocą 1M NaCl. Dla opisu procesu sorpcji wykorzystano modele Langmuira i Freundlicha opisując izotermy sorpcji Pb2+ i Cu2+ na próbkach bentonitu surowego i modyfikowanego.