In the current study, polyaniline and polypyrrole with silicon dioxide (PAni:PPy@SiO2) were combined to formulate a new adsorbent, which was examined using XRD, TEM, SEM, FTIR, TGA, and BET, and the adsorption kinetics were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy. The optical band gap was also evaluated. The electrochemical behavior was investigated using cyclic voltammograms. Moreover, experimental conditions were used to evaluate the 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) adsorption based on the pH, temperature, reaction time, and initial concentration. The analytical isotherm data were determined by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Sips, and Redlich–Peterson models. For the analysis of the kinetic data, the pseudo-first- and -second-order models and the intraparticle diffusion model were investigated. It was found that this new adsorbent possessed the highest adsorption efficiency after several regeneration cycles. Furthermore, the thermodynamic parameters of adsorption, such as entropy (ΔS), enthalpy (ΔH), and standard Gibbs were measured. These results suggest that the PAni:PPy backbone can generally be better applied for the elimination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by appropriately dispersing it over the surface of suitable SiO2. This search provides a novel way to develop separable, high-performance adsorbents for adsorbing organic contamination from wastewater.

The hybridization of clay minerals with conducting polymers receives great interest for different potential applications, including environmental remediation. This work studies and compares the electrochemical properties of two different clays, montmorillonite (Mont) and diatomite (Diat), and their respective clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrid materials in H2SO4 medium. The hybrid materials were prepared by electropolymerization of EDOT in the presence of PSS. The physico-chemical and electrochemical properties of both clays were analyzed by different techniques, and the influence of the clay properties on electropolymerization and the electroactivity of the resulting clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids was investigated. Specifically, the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox probe and the oxidation of diclofenac, as a model pharmaceutical emerging pollutant, were used to test the electron transfer capability and oxidative response, respectively, of the clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids. The results demonstrate that, despite its low electrical conductivity, the Mont is an electroactive material itself with good electron-transfer capability. Conversely, the Diat shows no electroactivity. The hybridization with PEDOT generally enhances the electroactivity of the clays, but the clay properties affect the electropolymerization efficiency and hybrids electroactivity, so the Mont/PEDOT displays improved electrochemical properties. It is demonstrated that clay/PEDOT-PSS hybrids exhibit diclofenac oxidation capability and diclofenac concentration sensitivity.