Adsorption of low molecular weight halocarbons by montmorillonite

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Environmental Science and Technology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00169a003· OSTI ID:5254882

Estes, T J; Shah, R V; Vilker, V L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

Montmorillonite clay from Clay Spur, WY, was found to adsorb several low molecular weight, hydrophobic halocarbons from aqueous solution at sub-parts-per-million levels. The halocarbons studied were trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, hexachloroethane, and dibromochloropropane. When the montmorillonite was treated with sodium citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite (CBD), it adsorbed higher levels of halocarbons than the untreated clay. In addition, the CBD-treated clay exhibited a maximum in halocarbon adsorption around pH 4, while untreated clay showed little variation in adsorption over the pH range 2-10. Adsorption of trichloroethylene was inhibited by low concentrations of sodium chloride (0.01 M or greater) in solution. Aging the CBD-treated clay in water decreased its capacity to adsorb trichloroethylene. Desorption studies showed that the sorption of tetrachloroethylene to CBD-treated clay is an irreversible process when compared to sorption by fumed silica. The ability of montmorillonite to adsorb halocarbons and the instability of the clay in water are postulated to involve changes in the oxide surface coating on the clay.

• OSTI ID: 5254882
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA) Vol. 22:5; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ADSORPTION
CLAYS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MONTMORILLONITE
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTANTS
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WYOMING