Organophilization of acid and thermal treated sepiolite for its application in BTEX adsorption from aqueous solutions

Acid and thermal treated sepiolite was organophilized by cationic exchange with several alkylammonium cations (octylammonium, hexadecylammonium, tetradecyltrimethylammonium, hexadecyltrimethylammonium). The adsorption capacity of BTEX from aqueous solutions evaluated through the isotherms performed in batch. results were analysed using three isotherm models: Freundlich, Langmuir Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R model). behaviour suggested multilayer coverage on a heterogeneous surface, which is according to Freundlich model. thermodynamic analyse D-R model show that physical mechanisms govern process. maximum obtained materials range values 81.19 mg g−1- 1448.42 g−1, are higher than those reported up now. organo-sepiolite exhibit high potential compounds solutions.