Zirconium porous clay heterostructures (Zr-PCH) were synthesized using intercalated clay minerals by zirconium species with different contents of zirconium. The presence of zirconium and silica species was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance. The insertion of zirconium improved the thermal stability, the specific surface area with a maximum of 950 m2/g, and the acidity concentration of 0.993 mol of protons per g of solid. These materials were used to adsorb the basic blue-41 from aqueous solution. The adsorption efficiency was examined at different conditions, with a maximum adsorbed amount of 346 mg/g as estimated from Langmuir model. This value was dependent on zirconium content in the PCHs. The adsorption process was found to be favorable and spontaneous. The efficiency of the spent materials was maintained after five reuse cycles with a decrease by 15% of the original value for a particular Zr-PCH material with a Zr content of 6.82%. Single stage batch adsorber was suggested using the mass balance equation and Langmuir isotherm model. The amount of PCH materials required depended on the target percentage of adsorption at specific volume and initial concentration of the basic-blue-41 dye solution.
Keywords: acidity; adsorption; basic blue 41; porous clay heterostructures; regeneration; single stage batch design.