Abstract
A natural clay material, from El Menia (Ghardaia, Algeria), was used as a potential raw material for wastewater treatment. A clay sample was used in its raw and activated form. Physico-chemical properties of both samples were assessed by chemical analyses, grain size distribution, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. To our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the removal heavy metal ions such as Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions from aqueous solution using adsorption method onto natural clay from El-Menia (Ghardaïa) under different conditions. Physico-chemical parameters such as the effects of adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and initial concentration were studied in a series of batch adsorption experiments at 25 °C. The obtained results revealed very high removal percentages 98%, 81%, 93% and 84% for Pb2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions, respectively. Adsorption kinetics fitted well the pseudo-second-order model. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms were used to evaluate their potential fit to the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) indicated spontaneous and exothermic adsorption processes.
Highlights
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Algerian natural clays have high adsorptive capacities for heavy metals.
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Characterization of the studied clays showed good mineralogical and chemical properties.
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Removal kinetics was governed by the pseudo-second-order model.
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Adsorption process was exothermal and spontaneous in nature.
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Preliminary results on real wastewater treatment showed high removal efficiency.
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Athman, S., Sdiri, A. & Boufatit, M. Spectroscopic and Mineralogical Characterization of Bentonite Clay (Ghardaïa, Algeria) for Heavy Metals Removal in Aqueous Solutions. Int J Environ Res 14, 1–14 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00232-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00232-6