The use of clays to sequestrate organic pollutants. Leaching experiments Original Research Article

Leaching experiments are performed from clay-pollutant systems in order to evaluate the capability of clays to sequestrate organic pollutants from wastewaters. Reference kaolinite KGa-1b, montmorrillonite SWy-2 and reference soil BCR®-700 are the sorbent materials. 2,4,6-trichloroaniline (2,4,6-TCA) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) are the typical pollutants, sorbed at amounts of 10.0 mg g−1 and 5.8 mg g−1 on SWy-2 and 7.3 mg g−1 and 2.2 mg g−1 on KGa-1b, respectively. The leaching agents are ultrapure water and model solutions of acid rain and surface waters that simulate meteoric leaching. 1.0 mM HNO3, 1.0 mM H2SO4 solutions and a methanol/water 50/50 (v/v) mixture simulate leaching agents of industrial source. The results are compared and the preferential capability of the clays to sequestrate the more lipophilic 2,4,6-TCA is evidenced. The bond interactions are discussed and explained through preferential adsorption reactions. For montmorrillonite also a simultaneous intercalation in the phyllosilicate interlayer is proposed.