In this study, natural clay minerals with green appearance were treated with sulfuric acid. Mass percentage of acid (wt%), temperature (T), contact time (t) and liquid-to-solid mass ratio (R) are used as the prevailing factors that determine the extent of acid-activation. The values of these factors range from 15–50%, 60–90 °C, 1.5–6 h and 4–7, respectively. The study has focused on the structural changes as well as textural characteristics of the clay. Three activated clay samples were prepared under different treatment conditions. The samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), chemical analysis and N2 adsorption techniques. Characterization of the treated clay minerals exhibited significant structural changes to a greater extent of acid-activation, from being partially crystalline to being amorphous silica. The surface area and total pore volume of clay increased proportionally with the level of acid treatment. The average pore diameter behaved differently. During the strong acid treatment, a large increase in pore volume and the enlargement of the pore size distribution were observed. This suggests that considerable structural changes and partial destruction may have occurred in this condition. The removal of methylene blue, used as cationic dye, from aqueous solution by the batch adsorption technique on three prepared acid-activated clay samples was studied. The Langmuir model was found to agree well with the experimental data.

Nowadays, people over the world face severe water scarcity despite the presence of several water sources. Adsorption is considered as the most efficient technique for the treatment of water containing biological, organic, and inorganic contaminants. For this purpose, materials from various origins (clay minerals, modified clays, zeolites, activated carbon, polymeric resins, etc.,) have been considered as adsorbent for contaminants. Despite their cheapness and valuable properties, the use of clay minerals as adsorbent for wastewater treatment is limited due to many factors (low surface area, regeneration, and recovery limit, etc.). However, clay mineral can be used to enhance the performance of polymeric materials. The combination of clay minerals and polymers produces clay-polymers nanocomposites (CPNs) with advanced properties useful for pollutants removal. CPNs received a lot of attention for their efficient removal rate of various organic and inorganic contaminants via flocculation and adsorption ability. Three main classes of CPNs were developed (exfoliated nanocomposites (NCs), intercalated nanocomposites, and phase-separated microcomposites). The improved materials can be explored as novel and cost-effective adsorbents for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from water/wastewater. The literature reported the ability of CPNs to remove various pollutants such as bacteria, metals, phenol, tannic acid, pesticides, dyes, etc. CPNs showed higher adsorption capacity and efficient water treatment compared to the individual components. Moreover, CPNs offered better regeneration than clay materials. The present paper summarizes the different types of clay-polymers nanocomposites and their effective removal of different contaminants from water. Based on various criteria, CPNs future as promising adsorbent for water treatment is discussed.

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In this work, the adsorption of toluene onto acid-activated bentonite in a fixed bed using an inverse gas chromatography was investigated. Adsorbent was prepared according to an optimized activation process. Experimental and theoretical studies were established to evaluate the removal efficiency of toluene by adsorption on acid-activated bentonite and to predict kinetics parameters. A suitable adsorption model has been developed to simulate the measured data based on linear driving force approximation. The fourth-order Runge-Kutta method was used to integrate the partial differential equations, and the resulting functions were simultaneously solved to obtain the breakthrough profiles. Theoretical predictions from the model were compared with column adsorption data to ensure the validity of the model. Adequate agreement between simulations and experimental data was reached.

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Adsorption of toluene onto acid activated clay was carried out. Modified clay was prepared by acid attack (H 2 SO 4 ) on raw material. Response surface methodology based on a 2-level, 4-variables central composite orthogonal design was used to evaluate the effects of important parameters on the adsorption of toluene on to activated clay. .2 • C), contact time (0.57-6.93 h), mass ratio of liquid/solid (3.38-7.62) and strength of acid (7.75-57.24%) were chosen as process variables for the optimization. Of these parameters, temperature reaction and time had greater impact on toluene adsorption than did the other parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows a good agreement between theoretical analysis and experimental data. The validity of model is verified by an experiment at the optimum conditions. The optimum conditions for the maximum adsorption of toluene onto activated clay are: temperature of 96.2 • C, a contact time of 6.93 h, a liquid/solid ratio of 5.98 and strength of acid of 32.94%. Since the predicted values and the actual experimental value obtained for the maximum adsorption of toluene are within 95% confidence intervals, the final model is considered valid and has satisfactory predictive ability.L'adsorption du toluène sur l'argile activée par l'acide est réalisée. L'argile modifiée aété préparée par attaque acide (H 2 SO 4 ) de la matière première. On a eu recoursà la méthodologie de surface de réponse basée sur un plan d'expériences orthogonal composite centréà 2 niveaux et 4 variables afin d'évaluer les effets des paramètres importants pour l'adsorption du toluène sur l'argile activée. La température (53,8 • C-96,2 • C), le temps de contact (0,57-6,93 h), le rapport massique liquide/solide (3,38-7,62) et la force de l'acide (7,75-57,24%) ontété choisis comme variables de procédé pour l'optimisation. Parmi ces paramètres, le temps de contact et la température ont le plus grand impact sur l'adsorption du toluène. L'analyse de la variance (ANOVA) montre un bon accord avec l'analyse théorique et les données expérimentales. La validité du modèle est vérifiée par une expérience dans les conditions optimales. Les conditions optimales pour l'adsorption du toluène sur l'argile activée sont: la température de 96,2 • C, le temps de contact de 6,93 h, le rapport liquide/solide de 5,98 et la force de l'acide de 32,94%.Étant donné que la valeur prédictée et la valeur expérimentale réelle obtenue par l'adsorption maximale du toluène se trouvent dans un intervalle de confiance de 95%, le modèle final est considéré comme valide et possède une capacité de prédiction satisfaisante.

The laccase enzyme was successfully immobilized over a magnetic amino-functionalized metal–organic framework Fe3O4-NH2@MIL-101(Cr). Different techniques were used for the characterization of the synthesized materials. The Fe3O4-NH2@MIL-101(Cr) laccase showed excellent resistance to high temperatures and low pH levels with a high immobilization capacity and large activity recovery, due to the combination of covalent binding and adsorption advantages. The long-term storage of immobilized laccase for 28 days indicated a retention of 88% of its initial activity, due to the high stability of the immobilized system. Furthermore, a residual activity of 49% was observed at 85 °C. The immobilized laccase was effectively used for the biodegradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB) and Alizarin Red S (AR) dyes in water. The factors affecting the RB and AR degradation using the immobilized laccase (dye concentration, temperature and pH) were investigated to determine the optimum treatment conditions. The optimum conditions for dye removal were a 5 mg/L dye concentration, temperature of 25 °C, and a pH of 4. At the optimum conditions, the biodegradation and sorption-synergistic mechanism of the Fe3O4-NH2@MIL-101(Cr) laccase system caused the total removal of AR and 81% of the RB. Interestingly, the reusability study of this immobilized enzyme up to five cycles indicated the ability to reuse it several times for water treatment.