Adsorption of divalent metals on natural and functionalized nontronite hybrid surfaces: An evidence of the chelate effect

Nontronite is an important phyllosilicate with a high concentration of ferric iron in the octahedral layer. A new occurrence of Brazilian nontronite sample was used for the organofunctionalization process with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Due to the increment of basic centers attached to the pendant chains, the metal adsorption capability of the final chelating material, was found to be higher than its precursor. The ability of these materials to remove Pb2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ from aqueous solutions was followed by a series of adsorption isotherms at room temperature and pH 6.0, in batch adsorption experiments in order to explain the adsorption mechanism. In order to evaluate the phyllosilicate samples as adsorbents in a dynamic system, a glass column was fulfilled with nontronite samples (1.5 g) and it was fed with 2.1 mmol dm−3 divalent cations at pH 6.0. The energetic effects caused by metal cations adsorption were determined through calorimetric titrations. The effects of three divalent metals adsorption in the zero point of charge of each material were investigated.