Adsorption of Organic Compounds on Refined Latvian Clay

Abstract

Clays are materials consisting of clay minerals and non-clay minerals. Clay mineral fraction is considered to be a nanofraction. Clay minerals can be used for water purification and treatment. Description and characterization of 3 different Latvian clay nanosized minerals from 3 different geological periods (clay Liepa from Devonian period, clay Vadakste from Triassic period and clay Apriki from Quaternary period) as well as their adsorption capacity concerning organic compounds such as methyl orange and rhodamine B are summarized. Nanosized clay mineral particles were obtained using sedimentation method. Particle size distribution, zeta potential and FTIR spectra is given. The adsorption tests of above mentioned organic compounds were carried out in water solutions at 3 different pH values. The adsorption values were determined by means of UV-spectrophotometric technique. Zeta potential values for clay minerals Apriki, Liepa and Vadakste are -40.9 mV, -49.6 mV and -43.0 mV, respectively. FTIR spectra show similar tendencies for all 3 clay minerals. The best adsorption capacity concerning methyl orange and rhodamine B were in solutions with a pH value of 2, whereas at neutral and alkaline pH values adsorption in 24 hours was not observed.