Adsorption of nicotine from aqueous solutions on montmorillonite and acid-modified montmorillonite

Abstract

Montmorillonite (Mt) and acid modified montmorillonite (MtA) were tested as nicotine adsorbents. The samples were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy and low temperature nitrogen physisorption. Nicotine adsorption was performed with respect to contact time, pH and initial nicotine concentration. The kinetics of adsorption obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The optimal pH values for nicotine adsorption were 6 and 9 for Mt and MtA, respectively. The isotherms related to adsorption on Mt at pH = 6 and 9 as well as for MtA at pH=6 were best fitted with Sips isotherm model, while adsorption onto MtA at pH=9 obeyed Langmuir isotherm model.