Removal of the persistent pollutant chlorobenzene by adsorption onto activated montmorillonite

The potential of activated bentonite was assessed for adsorption of chlorobenzene from aqueous solution. The bentonite used was treated by chemical and thermal activation over 100–500 °C. The thermal activation increased the adsorption capacity more strongly than chemical activation which consists to acid and hydrogen peroxide treatment. The removal is dominated by adsorption at low initial concentrations and low temperatures and favourable in acidic media. The dependence of the adsorption on pH appears to be related to the solubility of chlorobenzene. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG° and Ea have been calculated. The adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The Freundlich isotherm described the adsorption data over the concentration range (20–270 °C).