Studies of Adsorption Capacity of Montmorillonite-Enriched Clay from the Khmelnytskyi Region

Abstract

Clay from the Khmelnytskyi region was enriched in montmorillonite by separation of a fraction with a particle size  0.5 ∙ 10-6 m. The X-ray diffraction and thermal analyses suggest that the enriched clay composition is close to mono-mineral, that is, represented by ferric-type montmorillonite in the form of Ca and Mg. The mineral interlayer spacings are partially filled with natural organic matter. An exchange capacity of montmorillonite is 0.78 mmol/g as shown by the photocolorimetry studies of the adsorption of the cationic methylene blue (MB) dye. It is recommended that studied clay be used as an effective natural adsorbent for wastewater treatment and for the arrangement of geochemical barriers to prevent harmful substances from entering the environment.