Cleaning of pesticides from aqueous solution by a newly synthesized organoclay

In the present study, the novel quaternary ammonium salt (QAS⁺), 1-methyl-di-octyl-1 phenyl ammonium iodide (QAS₁), was synthesized by complete alkylation reaction. Sodium montmorillonite (Mt) was modified via an ion-exchange reaction with QAS₁⁺. The modified material and quarternary ammonium salt (Mt1 and QAS₁) were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Removal capacity of hydrophobic organic pollutants such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) from solution media of synthesized organoclay was evaluated. The optimum conditions and batch kinetics of adsorption of 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol from aqueous solutions are reported. It was shown that the adsorption capacity decreased in the order 4-NP> 2,4-DNP. The total mass loss during the drying process was 66% and 78%, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and entropy (ΔS⁰) and the mean free energy (E) for the adsorption of nitrophenol compounds (NCP) were determined.