Abstract

In this study, Montmorillonite (MMT) clay, which is cheap and abundant in nature, was modified using two different modifiers. In the modification of MMT clay, 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide (BMIM-Br) was used as quaternary ammonium salt and Tetraethylammonium Bromide (TEABr) was used as ionic liquid modifiers. OMMT-1, which was obtained by modifying MMT clay with BMIM-Br modifier, and OMMT-2, which was synthesized using TEABr modifier, were investigated for their use as adsorbents in the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. At a Cu(II) concentration of 635mg/L, OMMT-1 organoclay adsorbed 20.31% and OMMT-2 organoclay adsorbed 10.94% of Cu(II) ions. The data obtained to determine the adsorption mechanism were evaluated for their suitability according to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevitch and Harkins-Jura isotherms. It was determined that the OMMT-1 organoclay obeyed the Langmuir isotherm and its maximum adsorption capacity was 38.91mg/g, while the OMMT-2 organoclay obeyed the Freundlich isotherm and its adsorption capacity, KF, was found to be 0.036. It was determined that the OMMT-1 organoclay was a better sorbent than the OMMT-2 organoclay in removing Cu(II) ions from aqueous

Keywords:Keywords: Organo-montmorillonite; Cu(II) adsorption; Adsorption isotherms; Langmuir isotherm; Freundlich isotherm; RMSE