Use of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide bentonite to remove organic contaminants of varying polar character from water

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB)-bentonite was produced by the exchange of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTMA) cations for inorganic ions on the internal and external surfaces of bentonite. CTMAB-bentonite was used to remove organic contaminants of varying polar character from water. The properties and mechanisms for CTMAB-bentonite to sorb benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, nitrobenzene, aniline, phenol, and p-nitrophenol in water were investigated in some detail. Benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene sorption to CTMAB-bentonite was characterized by linear isotherms, indicating solute partition between water and the organic phase composed of the large alkyl functional groups of the CTMA cations. Phenol and p-nitrophenol sorption to CTMAB-bentonite was caused primarily by adsorption with relatively strong solute uptake. Their isotherms were nonlinear. Nitrobenzene and aniline sorption to CTMAB-bentonite was weak, and the isotherms were approximately linear. Their sorption was caused by both partition and solute uptake. The sorption data were also evaluated in terms of the octanol-water partition coefficients of the organic compounds.