Kinetic, isotherm and mechanism investigations of the removal of phenols from water by raw and calcined clays

In this work, the phenols removal of phenol from water by raw clay (RCG) and calcined one at 1000 °C (CCG) of Goulmima city (Morocco) was investigated. The kinetics and isotherms experiments were also studied at pH = 4. The results indicated that the phenol adsorption reached equilibrium within 3 h, and the removal of phenol was enhanced at the same temperature by CCG (2.932 mg/g) adsorbent, compared to RCG (1.640 mg/g) due to the removal of organic matter by heat treatment, and an increase in adsorption temperature, indicating the endothermic process. The adsorbents were characterized by means of X-ray fluorescence, FTIR, XRD, B.E.T, and TGA/DTA analysis and showed that the clay consists essentially of silica and alumina. The experimental data were examined by using linear and nonlinear forms of the kinetics and the isotherms models. Based on the errors of the calculated values of R(2) (Coefficient of determination), χ(2) (Chi-square) and standard deviation (Δq (%)), it was found that the nonlinear forms of second-order kinetic model and Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson (R–P) isotherm models are best fit the experimental data for both adsorbents. However, the enthalpy ΔH° is less than 20 kJ/mol and the free energy ΔG° has a negative value, which shows that the adsorption is done physically and spontaneously on heterogeneous sites. The interest of this study is the use of FTIR and XRD to determine the effect of calcination on the phenol adsorption mechanism. However, the analysis of both adsorbents, before and after adsorption of phenol, shows that the adsorption mechanism of phenol is provided by the hydrogen bonding of the water molecules.