Adsorption of phenol and chlorophenols by HDTMA modified halloysite nanotubes

Abstract

The adsorption of phenol, 2-, 3-, 4-chlorophenol, 2-, 4-dichlorophenol and 2-, 4-, 6-trichloro-phenol on halloysite nanotubes modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA/halloysite nanocomposite) was investigated in this work by inverse liquid chromatography methods. Morphological and structural changes of the HDTMA/halloysite nanocomposite were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and the low-temperature nitrogen adsorption method. Specific surface energy heterogeneity profiles and acid base properties of halloysite and HDTMA/halloysite nanocomposite have been determined with the inverse gas chromatography method. Inverse liquid chromatography methods: the Peak Division and the Breakthrough Curves Methods were used in adsorption experiments to determine adsorption parameters. The obtained experimental adsorption data were well represented by the Langmuir multi-center adsorption model.