Sorption study of organic contaminant on raw and modified clay materials

Abstract

The adsorption of volatile organic compound VOC (o-xylene) was studied by a static headspace coupled to gas chromatography in natural and intercalated clay. Vapor-solid adsorption isotherms of o-xylene were measured at 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C. Clay was modified with hexadecyl trimetyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA). Absolute values of the amounts of o- xylene adsorbed in intercalated clay were about eighteen times higher than natural clay. The adsorption isotherm were analysed with Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich and Toth models. Langmuir-Freundlich model describes well the equilibrium adsorption data. The evaluation of thermodynamic parameters presents an exothermic and spontaneous adsorption process. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013.