Isotherms for Aqueous Potassium Adsorption and Characterization of Natural Pyrophyllite

The present investigatory founded an effectiveness of inexpensive and eco-friendly alumina silicate clay minerals, sericitic pyrophyllite (SP), as an adsorbent for the possible application in the absorption of K+. The crystal structure of pyrophyllite, size and morphology were characterized by XRD and SEM. In addition to pyrophyllite, quartz and were also contained in the minerals. The area of lamellar SP was about dozens um2. The results showed that potassium was absorbed on the SP under different pH and concentrations, and the best condition was pH=6, the time of equilibrium absorption = 30 min. It has been found that these natural minerals are effective in removing 55−75% of K+ from 5.0 to 20 mgL-1 KNO3 solutions. The applicability of the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption isotherms in each case of potassium was examined separately. We found that the adsorption process was endothermic in the case of SP and the Freundlich adsorption model was to more suitably represent the data. The work could provide the theoretical basis of the study of potassium ions adsorbed by pyrophyllite applying in fertilizer.