Gemini surfactant-modified montmorillonite with tetrachloroferrate (FeCl4-) as a counterion simultaneously sequesters nitrate and phosphate from aqueous solution

Wuhui Luo; Qidong Huang; Ping Zeng; Cheng Cheng; Xiujuan Yuan; Ting Xiao; Meng Zhang; Philip Antwi; Jialiang Xing; Sili Ren

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124829

Gemini surfactant-modified montmorillonite with tetrachloroferrate (FeCl₄^-) as a counterion simultaneously sequesters nitrate and phosphate from aqueous solution

J Hazard Mater. 2021 May 5:409:124829. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124829. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Authors

Wuhui Luo¹, Qidong Huang², Ping Zeng², Cheng Cheng², Xiujuan Yuan², Ting Xiao², Meng Zhang³, Philip Antwi², Jialiang Xing⁴, Sili Ren⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, PR China; Jiangxi Academy of Environmental Sciences, Nanchang 330039, PR China. Electronic address: luo070221@126.com.
² School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, PR China.
³ Jiangxi Academy of Environmental Sciences, Nanchang 330039, PR China.
⁴ Water and Environmental Engineering Group, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
⁵ School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, PR China. Electronic address: sili_ren@163.com.

PMID: 33422752
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124829

Abstract

Alkyl quaternary ammonium-modified clay minerals, which are common environmentally friendly materials, have been widely studied and applied for the removal of pollutants. However, there are few reports on functionalizing the counterions to expand the application. In this study, the cationic gemini surfactant butane-1,4-bis(dodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide) (gBDDA) and tetrachloroferrate (FeCl₄^-) are designed to modify montmorillonite (Mt), and the obtained FeCl₄^-/Gemini-Mt composite (FeOMt) is used for the removal of nitrate and/or phosphate from aqueous solution. The successful intercalation of gBDDA and favorable loading of FeCl₄^- into FeOMt are suggested by the characterization results of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Nitrate and/or phosphate are rapidly sequestered, and the respective maximum uptakes of 8.77 (N) and 28.1 (P) mg/g in the binary system are obtained. The phosphate uptake is stably maintained against many coexisting ions, but the nitrate uptake decreases with the increase in ionic strength. FeOMt is reusable and shows comparable uptake for nitrate and phosphate with respect to gBDDA-modified Mt and polymerized ferric chloride. Considering the multi-functionality and facile synthesis, FeOMt shows promising potential in the purification of wastewater contaminated simultaneously by poorly hydrated anions (e.g., ClO₄^-, TcO₄^-, etc.) and iron-selective anions (e.g., H₂AsO₄^-, etc.).

Keywords: Gemini surfactant; Montmorillonite; Nitrate; Phosphate; Tetrachloroferrate.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't