Fabrication of Modified Halloysite Nanotubes and Their Adsorption Behavior for Methylene Blue

KeyWord:modified halloysite  silane coupling agent  methylene blue  adsorption

Abstract:

      Halloysite nanotubes(HNTs) were modified with silane coupling agent 3-triethoxysilylpropylamine(APTS) and their sorption behavior for methylene blue(MB) was investigated.Halloysite nanotubes composites before and after modification were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR) and X-ray diffractometer(XRD).The sorption behavior of the modified halloysite nanotubes for methylene blue was studied as a function of contact time and temperature.The Lagrange pseudo-second order kinetic model,Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich equation were used to fit the data.The results showed that the modified HNTs were successfully obtained and the sorption capacity of the modified HNTs for methylene blue was high.The modified adsorbent had a rather rapid adsorption rate and reached adsorption equilibrium in 60 min.The maximal sorption capacity was 21.66 mg/g,which was higher than that of the unmodified halloysite nanotubes.The sorption process of methylene blue by the modified halloysite followed the pseudo second order kinetic model,and the adsorption process was mainly physical adsorption.The data for methylene blue system were fitter for the Langmuir isotherm model rather than Freundlich model.Thermodynamic parameters depicted the endothermic nature of adsorption and the process was spontaneous,and the sorption of methylene blue was increased with the increase of temperature.Furthermore,the as prepared adsorbent could be reused six times at least,which indicated that the modified HNTs have a potential usage in waste-water treatment.