A comparative adsorption study was performed using cationic Rhodamine 6G and anionic Chrome azurol S dye on halloysite and kaolinite. Halloysite has similar chemical structure as kaolinite except for the tubular morphology with diameter of 50 nm and length of ~1000 nm. Halloysite exhibited higher adsorption capacity for both cationic and anionic dyes. Filters were prepared using one gram of halloysite and over 99.99% of the dyes were successfully removed from the 300 mg/L solutions. Filters have been effectively regenerated by burning the adsorbed dyes. Removal efficiency of Chrome azurol S exceeded 99.99% after 5th regeneration cycle of halloysite. Influence of pH, ionic strength, temperature and concentrations were investigated. For Rhodamine 6G, higher ionic strength, temperature and initial concentration were favorable to enhanced adsorption with optimal pH 8. For Chrome azurol S, adsorption capacity decreases with increasing of ionic strength, temperature and pH. Low-cost halloysite has a potential for both positive and negative contaminant removal.

Nanotubular halloysite clay as efficient water filtration system for cationic and anionic dyes removal

245th National Meeting (2013)

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