Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption Properties of (CTAB)-Modified Bentonite for Water Contaminant Removal

Abstract

The research consists of incorporating CTAB into the layers of the the bentonite structure, integrating acid-treated bentonite with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and obtaining an organic material adsorbent. The physical and chemical properties of the sample modifications are identified by employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric/thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). The bentonite used in this study was recovered from the Trebia deposit, located on the north-western flank of the Tidiennit massif in the Nador region (northeast Morocco). The composite developed in the present study is a practical adsorbent for the treatment of industrial wastewater. CTAB was successfully inserted into acid-activated bentonite, demonstrating intercalation processes through X-ray diffraction, FTIR, SEM, and TGA/DTA. The modified Bentonite structure showed increased interlayer space due to the introduction of molecules or ions. The TGA/DTA graphs confirmed the hydrophobic alteration of Bentonite, with reduced clay dehydration and a surfactant decomposing on the surface and interlayer spaces. Morphologically, CTAB formed large particles and cavities.