Analytical Sciences

Simultaneous Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater Using Modified Sodium Montmorillonite Nanoclay

Mohammad Reza REZAEI KAHKHA,* Massoud KAYKHAII,** Batool REZAEI KAHKHA,* Hamed KHOSRAVI,*** and Esmaeil TOHIDLOU***

*Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
**Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
***Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Sodium montmorillonite nanoclay particles were modified by 3-aminopropyltrimetoxysilane using a physical vapor deposition method and applied for the simultaneous removal of Cd, Zn, Pb and Ni heavy metals from wastewater samples. Experiments were performed in both batch and column systems. Several parameters that influence the removal efficiency, such as the pH, contact time, amount of adsorbent, interfering ions, flow rate of sample passage and eluent solvent, were evaluated and optimized. The results showed that the adsorption isotherms obeyed Langmuir isotherms for all heavy metals. Also, interfering ions did not influenced the removal efficiency. Finally, modified nanoclay successfully could remove all heavy metals from real wastewater samples to near completeness.

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