Analysis of tetramethylammonium–montmorillonite and retention of toluene from aqueous solution

Non-ionic organic contaminants, such as toluene, can be effectively absorbed by organo-montmorillionite. The tetramethylammonium (TMA)–montmorillonites were prepared by ion-exchange and used to evaluate toluene uptake from water. The TMA–montmorillonites were characterized by total organic carbon determinations, swelling index, X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses, and infrared spectroscopy. Toluene adsorption was measured by UV–visible spectrophotometry. The thermal stability of the TMA–montmorillonites decreased as TMA addition increased; the total mass loss decreased with increasing temperature up to 500 °C. The amount of carbon retained by the TMA–montmorillonites was proportional to the area of the infrared band at 1488 cm− 1 (asymmetric C–H bending vibration of –CH3 group). The retention of toluene by TMA–montmorillonites increased from 0.2 to 0.22 mg g− 1 mainly to interlayer adsorption. The adsorption of toluene influenced the OH-stretching vibration.