Adsorption of ionic and non-ionic surfactants by wool charring waste

The behaviour of wool charring waste as an adsorbent in pollution control was investigated. The adsorption of ionic surfactants is highly dependent on pH value: anionic surfactant solutions require acidic media, while cationic surfactants prefer alkaline media. Increases in temperature enhance the adsorption of most kinds of surfactants. A kinetic study carried out in aqueous media and in water/ethanol mixtures has shown that adsorption of ionic surfactants proceeds first through ionic bonding and then through hydrophobic bonding, resulting in hemimicellization of the surfactant molecules.