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Adsorption of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and ortho-Nitrophenol from Aqueous Media Using Surfactant-Modified Clinoptilolite–Polypropylene Hollow Fibre Composites

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Abstract

Natural clinoptilolite was modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, a cationic surfactant, and then melt-mixed with polypropylene hollow fibres to produce polymer composites with adsorptive properties. The performance of the fabricated composites was evaluated by optimizing experimental parameters such as surfactant loading, contact time, pH and initial concentration for the adsorptive removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and ortho-nitrophenol (o-NP). Based on the fourier transmission infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy micrographs of as-received and surfactant-modified clinoptilolite, the modification of natural clinoptilolite was attained. The composites showed enhanced adsorption capability for TCP over o-NP with removal efficiencies of 84% and 46%. Loading the clinoptilolite with surfactant concentrations beyond 8 mM reduced the adsorption capacity. The removal of TCP and o-NP was found to depend critically on the pH of the solution, and the optimum ranges were 4–6 and 2–6 for compounds, respectively. The adsorption dynamics were determined with first- and second-order kinetics models, and the adsorption system for TCP and o-NP followed the first-order kinetics. Adsorption isotherm analysis revealed that the adsorption equilibrium data obeyed/fit the Freundlich isotherm.

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Abbreviations

AR:

As-received

CLI:

Clinoptilolite

CLI–PP:

Clinoptilolite–polypropylene composite

CMC:

Critical micelle concentration

ECEC:

External cationic exchange capacity

HDTMA:

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium

o-NP:

ortho-nitrophenol

PP:

Polypropylene

PPHF:

Polypropylene hollow fibre

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SM CLI:

Surfactant-modified clinoptilolite

SM CLI–PP:

Surfactant-modified clinoptilolite–polypropylene

SM CLI–PPHF:

Surfactant-modified clinoptilolite–polypropylene hollow fibres

TCP:

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

XRF:

X-ray fluorescence

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

UV–vis:

Ultraviolent–visible spectrophotometer

rpm:

Revolutions per minute

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Technology, University of Johannesburg, P.O Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa

    Machawe M. Motsa, Justice M. Thwala, Titus A. M. Msagati & Bhekie B. Mamba

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Swaziland

    Justice M. Thwala

Authors
  1. Machawe M. Motsa
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  2. Justice M. Thwala
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  3. Titus A. M. Msagati
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  4. Bhekie B. Mamba
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Correspondence to Bhekie B. Mamba.

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Motsa, M.M., Thwala, J.M., Msagati, T.A.M. et al. Adsorption of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol and ortho-Nitrophenol from Aqueous Media Using Surfactant-Modified Clinoptilolite–Polypropylene Hollow Fibre Composites. Water Air Soil Pollut 223, 1555–1569 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-0964-9

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