PHENOLREMOVAL FROMWASTEWATER BY MODIFIED CLAY

A new type of modified clay was produced from a Ca-bentonite treated with hydrochloric acid as a surface modifier agent and then withhexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide(HDTMA) as a surfactant to produce an organophilic adsorbent. The specific surface area of the modified clays was 40% higherthan the specific surface area of bentonite treated only with HDTMA. A series of kinetic and equilibrium tests were carried outto study the effectiveness of the modification method to improve the bentonite ability to remove phenol from aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacity of modified bentonitewas 10 times greater than the natural bentonite. Phenol adsorption was fast and reached equilibrium in 30 minutes.Adsorption was described with Henry andFreundlich isotherms.