Adsorptive Potential of 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole-Immobilized Organophilic Hydrotalcite for Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Phase and Its Kinetic and Equilibrium Profiles

An organophilic calcined hydrotalcite (OHTC) was prepared by treating calcined hydrotalcite (HTC) with sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (an anionic surfactant) to achieve a high loading of thiol functionality through the immobilization of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) as a chelating agent. The adsorbent (MBI-OHTC) obtained was characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TG/DTG, surface area analysis and potentiometric titration. The adsorption of MBI-OHTC to remove Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied as a function of pH, contact time, metal ion concentration, ionic strength and adsorbent dose. The optimum pH range for the maximum removal of Hg(II) was 6.0–8.0. The maximum value of Hg(II) adsorption was found to be 11.63 and 21.52 mg g−1 for an initial concentration of 25 and 50 mg l−1, respectively at pH 8.0. The equilibrium conditions were achieved within 3 h under the mixing conditions employed. A reversible pseudo-first-order used to test the adsorption kinetics. The adsorption mechanism consisted of external diffusion and intraparticle diffusion and the intraparticle mass transfer diffusion was predominated after 20 min of experiment. Extent of adsorption decreased with increase of ionic strength. The experimental isotherm was analyzed with two parameters (Langmuir and Freundlich) and three parameters (Redlich–Peterson) equations. The isotherm data were best modeled by the Freundlich isotherm equation. Complete removal (≈100%) of Hg(II) from 1.0 l of chlor-alkali industry wastewater containing 9.86 mg Hg(II) ions, was possible with 3 g of the adsorbent dose at pH 8.0. About 95.0% of Hg(II) can be recovered from the spent adsorbent using 0.1 M HCl.