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Removal of Humic Acid by Organo-Montmorillonites: Influence of Surfactant Loading and Chain Length of Alkylammonium Cations

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Abstract

In this study, the characterization and adsorption properties of montmorillonite (MMT) and organomontmorillonites with different surfactant/cationic exchange capacity (CEC) ratios (1 and 2) of tetradecyl trimethylammonium (TDTMA+) and hexadecyl trimethylammonium (HDTMA+) cations were evaluated. The particle apparent diameter, determined by laser and scanning electron microscopy showed aggregate formation, which varied with loading and cation length of the surfactant used. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of a pseudotrilayer arrangement of both surfactants in the interlayer space, FTIR showed the characteristic bands of the surfactants and micelle formations, and zeta potential determinations indicated neutral or negative surface charge values, except for sample obtained with one CEC concentration exchanged with HDTMA+ (HDTMA1-MMT) where a charge reversal to positive was found. Higher adsorption amounts of humic acid (HA) were found for HDTMA1-MMT and TDTMA1-MMT samples than for MMT sample, while the increase in the loading of both surfactants decreased the amounts of HA adsorbed could be assigned to a higher micelle formation and different packing density of alkyl chain, in the external surface. The correlation found between the total surface area and negative zeta potential values and the HA adsorption rate, within each surfactant, indicated the strong influence that these properties have on HA adsorption.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the technical help from G. Guzman and ANPCyT through Project PICT 1360/2006 and FONARSEC FS Nano-008/2010 for financial support of this work. MF acknowledges a fellowship research grant from MINCyT-ANPCyT and CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CETMIC-CCT La Plata, Camino Centenario y 506, (1897) M. B. Gonnet, La Plata, Argentina

    M. Fernández & R. M. Torres Sánchez

  2. Laboratorio de Análisis Ambiental, Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G. Curutchet

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  1. M. Fernández
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  2. G. Curutchet
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Correspondence to R. M. Torres Sánchez.

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Fernández, M., Curutchet, G. & Torres Sánchez, R.M. Removal of Humic Acid by Organo-Montmorillonites: Influence of Surfactant Loading and Chain Length of Alkylammonium Cations. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1987 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-1987-9

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