Remediation of Phenol-contaminated Aqueous Solutions by Synthesized Organoclay

Phenol and its metabolites are among the hazardous organic compounds, due to their carcinogenicity, toxicity, long term persistence in the environment. The purposes of this study are the synthesis of organoclay as an adsorbent with high physicochemical stability, environmental compatibility and its application for remediation of aqueous solutions contaminated with phenol. In this research, organoclay was synthesized by the combination of sodium bentonite and Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) surfactant with three different Cation Exchange Capacities (CECs). As well as, adsorption capacity of synthesized organoclay was determined during reuse until saturation. The results revealed that the removal efficiencies of phenol at concentrations of 100, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/L were 68, 84, 82, and 80%, respectively. In general, the use of organoclay can be an alternative to the complex and expensive systems for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions with respect to its simplicity, high performance, and cost-effectiveness.