Preparation and characterization of nanomuscovite by intercalation method for adsorption of heavy metals from polluted water.

In this study, nanomuscovite adsorbents were prepared by intercalation with various organic intercalates (DTAB-TTAB-DTPA-PA-PN) and used to remove Cd and Pb from polluted water. The best nanomuscovite was prepared using DTPA and muscovite (Muc/DTPA) and characterized by XRD, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and BET surface area. The developed nanoadsorbent was used to remove Cd and Pb from polluted water. The effect of various factors, including contact time, adsorbent dosage, solution pH, and temperature, was investigated. The results reveal that the maximum adsorption of Cd and Pb was 91.5% and 97%, respectively, at the initial metal concentration 50 ppm, adsorbent dosage 0.2 g, contact time 60 min, solution temperature 25 °C, and pH 6 for Pb and pH 7 for Cd. Adsorption isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubunin-Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherm models) as well as kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intra-particle diffusion models) were employed to evaluate the experimental results. The adsorption of Cd and Pb on Muc/DTPA fitted well within the Langmuir isotherm model and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamics parameters of metal adsorption indicated exothermic and spontaneous processes. Results were applied to the real wastewater that showed high Cd and Pb removal.