The organo-clays (OCs) were prepared by a cation exchange reaction between surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium, C16TMA) from different counterions (Bromide, Chloride, and Hydroxide). The effect of the counterions was investigated on the physico-chemical properties of the prepared organo-clays. The highest uptake of organic cations (1.60 mmol/g) was achieved using cetyl trimethylammonium bromide solution and the lowest value (0.93 mmol/g) was obtained after modification with cetyl trimethylammonium hydroxide solution starting from the same initial ratio of mmol/g of clay greater than 2.40. The arrangement of C16TMA cations within the interlayer space was assumed to be perpendicular with a tilt angle of 32° to the plane of clay sheets instead of being parallel to the clay surface using C16TMAOH solution at the same ratio. Different techniques were used to characterize these materials. The thermal stability of these organ-clays was investigated using an in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The decomposition of the surfactant moiety occurred at temperatures higher than 215 °C and was accompanied with a shrinkage of the basal spacing value to 1.42 nm. These materials were applied in the removal of an acid dye "eosin." The removed amount of eosin depended on the initial concentrations and the content of surfactants in the organo-clays. The removal of eosin was found to be an endothermic process. The maximum amount of 90 mg/g was achieved. The preheated treatment temperature of two selected OCs did affect the removal properties of eosin. A progressive reduction was observed at temperatures higher than 200 °C. The regeneration of spent OCs was studied and acceptable removal efficiency was maintained after 4 to 6 cycles depending on the used initial concentrations.
Keywords: anionic dye; cetyltrimethylammonium cations; counter-ions; eosin dye; exchange reaction; in-situ XRD; organo-clays; regeneration; removal.