Behaviour of kaolinite intercalation compounds with selected ammonium salts in aqueous chromate and arsenate solutions

• The kaolinite intercalation compounds with selected ammonium salts were obtained.
• The XRD and IR indicated a monolayer or tilted arrangement in the interlayer space.
• The reaction with aqueous Cr(VI) and As(V) lead to deintercalation of molecules.
• A significant improvement of oxyanions immobilization was observed in all cases.
• The removal was due to precipitation of oxyanions alkyl salts and/or ion-exchange.

The removal of aqueous Cr(VI) and As(V) oxyanions from waters by different materials with sorption properties is of environmental importance. In this study, a methoxy-kaolinite derivative was intercalated with benzyltrimethylammonium (B1), tetramethylammonium (TMA), and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (B5) chlorides and the interaction of the obtained materials with oxyanions was examined. The PXRD (powder X-ray diffraction) and IR (Infrared spectroscopy) analyses indicated a monolayer arrangement of the B1 and TMA molecules in the interlayer space of the mineral, while a tilted arrangement was noticed in the case of B5. A complete or partial deintercalation of introduced molecules was observed in the reactions with aqueous solutions of Cr(VI) and As(V). In all studied systems a significant improvement of the oxyanions removal was observed as compared to the pure kaolinite. The highest uptake of oxyanions was noticed in the reaction with B5-intercalated material. This was due to precipitation of organic alkyl salts. The formation of alkylchromate was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. The lower uptake of oxyanions by the B1- and TMA-intercalated materials was due to lack of new solid precipitation and resulted from the ion-exchange of chlorides initially compensating the ammonia nitrogen charge. The experimental sorption isotherms for all the reactions were best represented by Langmuir equation. A gradual, two-step removal process of Cr(VI) and As(V) by B1- and TMA-intercalated materials was observed. In turn, the precipitation of alkyl salts in reaction with B5-intercalated material resulted in a rapid immobilization of the oxyanions. The kinetic data modelled using pseudo-second order equation showed very good agreement with experimental results.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide