Preparation and characterization of a Brazilian bentonite clay for removal of copper in porous beds

The objective of this work focused on preparing and characterizing bentonite clay through thermal treatment in order to be applied in a porous bed for copper adsorption. Tests to obtain adsorbent physical and chemical characteristics were performed on natural clay samples, samples calcined at 400 and 500 °C, and calcined submitted to copper adsorption. This clay was characterized according to the following techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGME) method, N2 physisorption (BET), helium pycnometry, mercury porosity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). A study was conducted to define the operation outflow, based on the minimum mass transfer zone (MTZ) obtained, useful (qU) and total (qT) adsorbed amounts, and total copper removal percentage (R (%)).

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► Thermally modified Bentonite clay was applied in a porous bed in copper adsorption.
► Clay was separated at different granulometry and treated in muffle at 400 and 500 °C.
► Structural changes enable the use of clay in porous bed without expansion.
► Smaller particle size and higher calcination temperature clay has greater adsorption.