Behaviour of kaolinite intercalation compounds with selected ammonium salts in aqueous chromate and arsenate solutions

The removal of aqueous Cr(VI) and As(V) oxyanions from waters by different materials with sorption properties is of environmental importance. In this study, a methoxy-kaolinite derivative was intercalated with benzyltrimethylammonium (B1), tetramethylammonium (TMA), and benzyldimethylhexadecylammonium (B5) chlorides and the interaction of the obtained materials with oxyanions was examined. The PXRD (powder X-ray diffraction) and IR (Infrared spectroscopy) analyses indicated a monolayer arrangement of the B1 and TMA molecules in the interlayer space of the mineral, while a tilted arrangement was noticed in the case of B5. A complete or partial deintercalation of introduced molecules was observed in the reactions with aqueous solutions of Cr(VI) and As(V). In all studied systems a significant improvement of the oxyanions removal was observed as compared to the pure kaolinite. The highest uptake of oxyanions was noticed in the reaction with B5-intercalated material. This was due to precipitation of organic alkyl salts. The formation of alkylchromate was confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. The lower uptake of oxyanions by the B1- and TMA-intercalated materials was due to lack of new solid precipitation and resulted from the ion-exchange of chlorides initially compensating the ammonia nitrogen charge. The experimental sorption isotherms for all the reactions were best represented by Langmuir equation. A gradual, two-step removal process of Cr(VI) and As(V) by B1- and TMA-intercalated materials was observed. In turn, the precipitation of alkyl salts in reaction with B5-intercalated material resulted in a rapid immobilization of the oxyanions. The kinetic data modelled using pseudo-second order equation showed very good agreement with experimental results.