Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adsorption of Tl(I) on Na–montmorillonite and kaolinite from aqueous solutions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Na–montmorillonite (Na–Mt) and kaolinite as low-cost adsorbent were performed to remove thallium(I) from aqueous solutions, and their adsorption behavior toward Tl(I) was evaluated. The adsorption of Tl(I) was strongly ionic strength and pH-dependent. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models fitted well with the adsorption kinetic studies for all materials with an equilibrium time of 5 min. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm were analyzed and fitted best by the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity of Na–Mt was, 29.3 mg/g, much higher than that of kaolinite under the chosen conditions. The adsorption of Tl(I) on Na–Mt was an endothermic process, but on kaolinite, it was exothermic process. The desorption and regeneration studies demonstrated that Na–Mt and kaolinite, which underwent five consecutive adsorption–desorption processes, still retained high Tl(I) removal efficiency. The possible adsorption mechanisms in view of cation exchange and surface complexation predominated that the Tl(I) adsorption processes were interpreted, and the X-ray diffraction and desorption results also verified the possible mechanisms. This work suggested that Na–Mt and kaolinite may be promising candidates for the removal of Tl(I) ions from aqueous solutions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abollino O, Giacomino A, Malandrino M, Mentasti E (2008) Interaction of metal ions with montmorillonite and vermiculite. Appl Clay Sci 38:227–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (1990) Heavy metals in soils. Trace metals and metalloids in soils and their bioavailability. Blackie, Wiley, Glasgow, pp 7–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Avery BW, Bascomb CL (1974) Soil survey laboratory methods. Adlard & Son Ltd Bartholmew Press, Harpenden, pp 24–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Babel S, Kurniawan TA (2003) Low-cost adsorbents for heavy metal uptake from contaminated water. J Hazard Mater 9:219–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbier F, Duc G, Petit-Ramel M (2000) Adsorption of lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solution to the montmorillonite/water interface. Colloids Surf A 166:1–3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beata KO, Sadowska M, Ostrowska S (2012) Thallium speciation in plant tissues-Tl(III) found in Sinapisalba L. grown in soil polluted with tailing sediment containing thallium minerals. Talanta 93:326–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busev AI, Tiptsova VG (1960) The analytical chemistry of thallium. Russ Chem Rev 29:479–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles CA, Yong RN (2002) Aspects of kaolinite characterization and retention of Pb and Cd. Appl Clay Sci 22:39–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ewers U (1988) Environmental exposure to thallium. Sci Total Environ 71:285–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferro S, Donatoni M, Battisti AD (2007) Adsorption of thallium cations on RuO2–TiO2 electrodes. J Appl Electrochem 37:1389–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fida H, Guo S, Zhang GK (2015) Preparation and characterization of bifunctional Ti–Fe kaolinite composite for Cr(VI) removal. J Colloid Interface Sci 442:30–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanafi A (2010) Adsorption of cesium, thallium, strontium and cobalt radionuclides using activated carbon. J At Mol Sci 1:292–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiemens PC, Rajagopalan R (1997) Principles of colloid and surface chemistry. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, p 428

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho YS, McKay G (1998) A comparison of chemisorption kinetic models applied to pollutant removal on various sorbents. Trans IchemE 76:332–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hossein DK, Hossein A (2013) Adsorption of thallium(I) ions using eucalyptus leaves powder. Clean Soil 00:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson AR, McBride MB, Baveye P (2005) Environmental factors determining the trace-level sorption of silver and thallium to soils. Sci Total Environ 345:191–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James GH, Michael JO, Edward B (2010) Determining the fluxes of Tl+ and K+ at the root surface of wheat and canola using Tl(I) and K ion-selective microelectrodes. Plant Soil 335:299–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javier AC, Fernando G, Laura B (2006) Sorption of As, Cd and Tl as influenced by industrial by-products applied to an acidic soil: equilibrium and kinetic experiments. Chemosphere 65:2377–2387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jozef L, Anna P, Bozena K, Wlodzimierz Z, Zenon L (2003) Thallium in soils and stream sediments of a Zn–Pb mining and smelting area. Environ Sci Technol 37:4569–4572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan DI, Mattigod SV (1998) Aqueous geochemistry of thallium. In: Nriagu JE (ed) Thallium in the Environment. Wiley, New York, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna G, Charyya B, Gupta SS (2008) Kaolinite and montmorillonite as adsorbents for Fe(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) in aqueous medium. Appl Clay Sci 41:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurt L, John DW, Bruce BJ (2004) Modeling the adsorption of Cd(II) onto kaolinite and Muloorinaillite in the presence of citric acid. J Colloid Interface Sci 270:86–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laforte L, Tessier A, Gobeil C, Carignan R (2005) Thallium diagenesis in lacustrine sediments. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:5295–5306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagergren S (1898) About the theory of so-called adsorption of soluble substances. Kungl Sven Veten Akad Handl 24:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Lan CH, Lin TS (2005) Acute toxicity of trivalent thallium compounds to Daphnia magna. Ecotox Environ Safe 61:432–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Lippold H, Wang J (2011) Sorption of thallium (I) onto geological materials: influence of pH and humic matter. Chemosphere 82:866–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NTIS (National Technical Information Service) USEPA (1980) Ambient water quality criteria for thallium, EPA 440/5-80-074. U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield

  • Osman MA, Ploetze M, Skrabal P (2004) Structure and properties of alkylammonium monolayers self-assembled on montmorillonite platelets. J Phys Chem B 108:2580–2588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pei ZG, Shan XQ, Kong JJ, Wen B (2010) Coadsorption of ciprofloxacin and Cu(II) on montmorillonite and kaolinite as affected by solution pH. Environ Sci Technol 44:915–920

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peter ALJ, Viraraghavan T (2005) Thallium: a review of public health and environmental concerns. Environ Int 31:493–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pu YB, Yang XF, Zheng H, Wang DS, Su Y, He J (2013) Adsorption and desorption of thallium(I) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Chem Eng J 219:403–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saima QM, Najma M, Amber RS (2008) Sawdust: a green and economical sorbent for thallium removal. Chem Eng J 140:235–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sangvanich T, Sukwarotwat V, Wiacek RJ, Yantasee W (2010) Selective capture of cesium and thallium from natural waters and simulated wastes with copper ferrocyanide functionalized mesoporous silica. J Hazard Mater 182:225–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sevil V, Bilge A (2007) Adsorption of copper and zinc from aqueous solutions by using natural clay. J Hazard Mater 149:226–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solar L, Navarro R (2007) Layer spacing of montmorillonite modified with rigid rods. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 12:4545–4553

    Google Scholar 

  • Spark KM, Wells JD, Johnson BB (1995) Characterizing trace metal adsorption on kaolinite. Eur J Soil Sci 46:633–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava SK, Tygai R, Pal N (1989) Studies on the removal of some toxic metal-ions removal of lead and cadmium by montmorillonite and kaolinite. Environ Technol Lett 10:275–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan XL, Wang XK, Geckeis H, Rabung T (2008) Sorption of Eu(III) on humic acid or fulvic acid bound to alumina studied by SEM-EDS, XPS, TRLFS and batch techniques. Environ Sci Technol 42:6532–6537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tansel B, Sager J, Rector T, Garland J, Strayer RF, Levine L, Roberts M, Hummerick M, Bauer J (2006) Significance of hydrated radius and hydration shells on ionic permeability during nanofiltration in dead end and cross flow modes. Sep Purif Technol 51:40–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twining BJ, Twiss M, Fisher DS (2003) Oxidation of thallium by freshwater plankton communities. Environ Sci Technol 37:2720–2726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unuabonah EI, Adebowale KO, Olu-Owolabi BI, Yang LZ, Kong LX (2008) Adsorption of Pb and Cd from aqueous solutions onto sodium tetraborate-modified konlinite clay: equilibrium and thermodynamic studies. Hydrometallurgy 93:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XS, Huang J, Hu HQ, Wang J, Qin Y (2007) Determination of kinetic and equilibrium parameters of the batch adsorption of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions by Na-mordenite. J Hazard Mater 142:468–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams-Beam C, Twidwell LG (2003) Removal of thallium from wastewater. Hydrometallurgy 2:21717–1727

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu XL, Zhao DL, Yang ST (2011) Impact of solution chemistry conditions on the sorption behavior of Cu(II) on Lin’an montmorillonite. Desalination 269:84–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeynep MS, Enol UU (2010) Thallium adsorption onto polyacryamide–aluminosilicate composites: a Tl isotope tracer study. Chem Eng J 162:97–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Huang T, Liu N (2009) Sorption of thallium(III) ions from aqueous solutions using titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 165:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao ZL, Wang XQ, Zhao C, Zhu XG, Du SY (2010) Adsorption and desorption of antimony acetate on sodium montmorillonite. J Colloid Interface Sci 345:154–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu RH, Chen Q, Zhu RL, Xu Y, Ge F, Zhu JX, He HP (2015) Sequestration of heavy metal cations on montmorillonite by thermal treatment. Appl Clay Sci 107:90–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang J, Yu GR (2002) Effects of surface coatings on electrochemical properties and contaminant sorption of clay minerals. Chemosphere 49:619–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41170399, 41273100) for financial support and Guangzhou Science and Technology Program (201510010225) for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Hong-Mei Deng, Yong-Heng Chen, Yao-Long Wang & Gao-Yuan Wu

  2. Guangzhou University Key Laboratory of Water Safety and Protection in Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Hong-Mei Deng, Yong-Heng Chen & Gao-Yuan Wu

  3. School of Chemistry and Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Hong-Hai Wu & Yao-Long Wang

  4. School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Tao Liu

  5. School of Chemistry and Materials, South-central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Heng-Peng Ye

Authors
  1. Hong-Mei Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yong-Heng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hong-Hai Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yao-Long Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gao-Yuan Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Heng-Peng Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong-Mei Deng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deng, HM., Chen, YH., Wu, HH. et al. Adsorption of Tl(I) on Na–montmorillonite and kaolinite from aqueous solutions. Environ Earth Sci 75, 752 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5570-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5570-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation