Sorption study of organic contaminant on raw and modified clay materials

The adsorption of volatile organic compound VOC (o-xylene) was studied by a static headspace coupled to gas chromatography in natural and intercalated clay. Vapor–solid adsorption isotherms of o-xylene were measured at 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C. Clay was modified with hexadecyl trimetyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA). Absolute values of the amounts of o- xylene adsorbed in intercalated clay were about eighteen times higher than natural clay. The adsorption isotherm were analysed with Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir–Freundlich and Toth models. Langmuir–Freundlich model describes well the equilibrium adsorption data. The evaluation of thermodynamic parameters presents an exothermic and spontaneous adsorption process.