Adsorption of phenol and aniline by original and quaternary ammonium salts-modified montmorillonite

Abstract

Adsorption of phenol and aniline onto original and with quaternary ammonium salts (QASs)-modified montmorillonite was described by sorption isotherms of type III and II, respectively. For the montmorillonite (MMT) modification - hydrophobisation, cetyltrimethyl- ammonium (CTMA) and tetramethylammonium (TMA) cations were used. In comparison with phenol, aniline was adsorbed largely on original MMT but less on modified one. XRD patterns indicated that both aromatic compounds were intercalated in the MMT interlayer being perpendicularly oriented to silicate sheets. Alkyl chains of CTMA and TMA probably act as organic “pillars” stabilising the MMT tabular structure against exfoliation due to the intercalation with phenol and aniline of high concentrations.