Adsorption Capacity of Smectite Clay and Its Thermal and Chemical Modification for Two Anionic Dyes: Comparative Study

Abstract

The present research evaluates the influence of modification of smectite clay (BC) on its adsorption capacity of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions. Thermal (BC 250), acidic (BC H2SO4), and alkaline (BC NaOH) modification of clay was carried out. The clays were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Adsorption of dyes was investigated by batch experiments at room temperature (23 ± 2 °C), a wide range of initial dye concentrations (1–1000 mg/dm3), and an adsorbent dose of 50 g. All modifications increased the clay’s adsorption capacity for Reactive Red 198, in the order BC H2SO4 > BC NaOH > BC 250 > BC; it was 10.32, 5.06, 3.32, and 2.92 mg/g, respectively. Acid and thermal modification of the clay increased its adsorption capacity for Acid Red 18, in the series BC H2SO4 > BC 250 > BC > BC NaOH; it was 3.07, 2.66, 2.16, and 1.28 mg/g, respectively. The experimental data were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Sips isotherms, using nonlinear regression. The experimental data best fitted the Sips isotherm. Taking into account the structure of the adsorbent and adsorbates and the results obtained, it can be concluded that the dyes were probably bound through chemisorption, by forming hydrogen bonds between Si–OH and Al–OH groups in the clay and –NH, –NH2, and –OH groups in the dyes. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that smectite clay is a promising material for dye adsorption.