Thermodynamic equilibrium analyses of the uptake of aromatic compounds from an aqueous solution by magnesium–aluminum (Mg–Al) layered double hydroxide intercalated with 1-naphthol-3,8-disulfonate

• The uptake of aromatics by 1-N-3,8-DS·Mg–Al LDH is expressed by the DR adsorption isotherm.
• 1-N-3,8-DS·Mg–Al LDH can take up DNB more preferentially than DMB.
• The uptake can be considered a physical adsorption process caused by π–π stacking interactions.

Magnesium–aluminum layered double hydroxide (Mg–Al LDH) intercalated with 1-naphthol-3,8-disulfonate (1-N-3,8-DS2−) was prepared by coprecipitation. Thermodynamically, the prepared Mg–Al LDH showed greater preferential uptake of 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) than of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB). This preferential uptake of aromatic compounds, which is adequately expressed by the Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherm, was attributed to the π–π stacking interactions between the benzene ring of the aromatic compounds and the naphthalene core of 1-N-3,8-DS2− intercalated in the interlayer spaces of Mg–Al LDH. Negative values of ΔG for DNB and DMB indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous at all temperatures. The value of ΔS for DNB was much lower than that for DMB. This implies that DNB was far more strongly adsorbed to 1-N-3,8-DS2− than was DMB, resulting in a lower degree of freedom for and higher uptake of DNB than those in the case DMB. The absolute values of |ΔH| for DNB and DMB were less than 20 kJ mol−1, indicating that the uptake of DNB or DMB by 1-N-3,8-DS·Mg–Al LDH can be considered a physical adsorption process caused by π–π stacking interactions.

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