Removal of asphaltene by solid‐phase iron exchanged bentonite

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to modify bentonite (B) by iron using the solid-phase ion exchange method to enhance the asphaltene adsorption. According to the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) results, after solid-state ion exchange, the structure of parent bentonite was changed slightly. An energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) showed that after ion exchange, the iron contents of bentonite increased from 0.6% to 1.6% w/w. Bentonite modification with iron increases asphaltene adsorption capacity (about 60%) compared to parent bentonite. Optimal adsorbent conditions for adsorption of asphaltene are 100 ppm concentration, 5 g/L adsorbent, and 60 min contact time. Adsorbent behavior showed that the adsorption kinetics and isotherm are in good agreement with the pseudosecond-order model and the Langmuir equation.