Adsorption of chloridazon from aqueous solution on heat and acid treated sepiolites.

The adsorption of chloridazon on heat treated sepiolite samples at 110 degrees C (S-110), 200 degrees C (S-200), 400 degrees C (S-400), 600 degrees C (S-600) and acid treated samples with H2SO4 solutions of two different concentrations (0.25 and 1.0M) (S-0.25 and S-1.0, respectively) from pure water at 25 degrees C has been studied by using batch experiments. In addition, column experiments were carried out with the natural (S-110) and 600 degrees C (S-600) heat treated samples, using a 10.30 mg l-1 aqueous solution of chloridazon. The adsorption experimental data points have been fitted to the Freundlich equation in order to calculate the adsorption capacities (Kf) of the samples; Kf values range from 2.89 mg kg-1 for the S-1.0 sample up to 164 mg kg-1 for the S-600 sample; so, the heat treatment given to the sepiolite greatly increases its adsorption capacity for the herbicide chloridazon whereas the acid treatment produces a clear decrease in the amount of chloridazon adsorbed. The removal efficiency (R) has also been calculated; R values ranging from 5.08% for S-1.0 up to 60.9% for S-600. The batch experiments showed that the strongest heat treatment is more effective than the natural and acid treated sepiolite in relation to adsorption of chloridazon. The column experiments also showed that 600 degrees C heat treated sepiolite might be reasonably used in removing chloridazon from water. Thus, as this type of clay is relatively plentiful, these activated samples might be reasonably used in order to remove chloridazon from water.

Effects of dissolved organic carbon on sorption of 3,4-dichloroaniline and 4-bromoaniline in a calcareous soil.

To evaluate the effects of dissolved organic carbon on sorption of 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) and 4-bromoaniline (4-BA) on soils, batch sorption experiments were carried out. The soil used was a typical calcareous soil from south-eastern Spain. Two different types of dissolved organic carbon were used, that is, dissolved organic carbon extracts from a commercial peat (DOC-PE) and high-purity tannic acid (DOC-TA). The experiments were carried out in a 0.01 M CaCl2 aqueous medium at 25 degrees C. The results obtained from the sorption experiments show that the presence of both DOC-PE and DOC-TA, over a concentration range of 15-100 mg l-1, produced in all cases, an increase in the amount of 3,4-DCA and 4-BA adsorbed on the soil studied.

Effects of ionic strength and temperature on adsorption of atrazine by a heat treated kerolite.

The adsorption of 6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (atrazine) on a heat treated kerolite sample at 600 degrees C (K-600) from pure water solution at 10 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C has been studied. The influence of the presence of 0.1 M KCl in the medium was also investigated for a better understanding of variables affecting the adsorption of this herbicide. The experimental adsorption data points were fitted to the Langmuir equation in order to calculate the adsorption capacities (Xm) of the samples; Xm values range from 2.3x10(3) mg kg-1 (pure water solution at 40 degrees C) up to 15.2x10(3) mg kg-1 (0.1 M KCl solution at 10 degrees C). The adsorption data were also fitted to the Freundlich equation in order to clarify the influence of the presence of 0.1 M KCl on atrazine adsorption. The parameter K10 obtained from this equation (adsorption capacity at an equilibrium solution concentration of atrazine equal to 10 mg l-1) shows clearly that the presence of 0.1 M KCl in the medium tends to increase the adsorption of atrazine in the range of temperature studied. The adsorption experiment also showed that the lower temperature, the more effective the adsorption of atrazine from both, pure water and 0.1 M KCl solutions. The values of the removal efficiency (R) obtained ranged from 39% at 40 degrees C (pure water solution) up to 93% at 10 degrees C (0.1 M KCl solution).

The potential removal of imidacloprid from water by heat-treated kerolites.

The adsorption of imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridinylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] on heat-treated kerolite samples at 110 degrees C (K-110), 200 degrees C (K-200), 400 degrees C (K-400) and 600 degrees C (K-600) from pure water solution at 25 degrees C has been studied. The evolution of the surface properties of the kerolite samples, such as specific surface area and porosity, after heat treatment were analysed. The clays were characterised by using FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis, surface analysis and Hg porosimetry. The experimental adsorption data points were fitted to the Freundlich equation in order to calculate the adsorption capacities (Kf) of the samples; Kf values ranged from 242 mg kg(-1) for the K-110 sample to 1005 mg kg(-1) for the K-600 sample. The values obtained for the removal efficiency (R) ranged from 62.8% for K-110 to 87.2% for K-600. The adsorption experiments showed that the stronger the heat treatment, the more effective was the adsorption of imidacloprid from pure water. This work shows the potential use of heat-activated kerolite for the removal of imidacloprid from environmental waters and drinking water resources.

Adsorption of atrazine from aqueous solution on heat treated kerolites.

The adsorption of 6-chloro-N(2)-ethyl-N(4)-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (atrazine) on heat treated kerolite samples at 110 degrees C (K-110), 200 degrees C (K-200), 400 degrees C (K-400) and 600 degrees C (K-600) from aqueous solution at 25 degrees C has been studied. The evolution of surface properties of kerolite samples such as specific surface area and porosity after heat treatment was analysed. The clays were characterised by using usual techniques: FTIR spectroscopy, XRD diffraction, TG and DTG analysis, surface analysis and Hg porosimetry. The adsorption experimental data points have been fitted to the Freundlich equation in order to calculate the adsorption capacities (K(f)) of the samples; K(f) values range from 468 mgkg(-1) for the K-110 sample up to 2291 mgkg(-1) for the K-600 sample. The values obtained for the removal efficiency (R), (percentage of pesticide removed), ranged from 48% for K-110 up to 78% for K-600. The adsorption experiments showed that the stronger heat treatment, the most effective adsorption of atrazine, so, as this type of clay is relatively plentiful, these activated samples might be used in order to remove this pesticide from water.

Effects of dissolved organic carbon on sorption and mobility of imidacloprid in soil.

To evaluate the effects of dissolved organic carbon on sorption and mobility of the insecticide imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl) methyl-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimine] in soils, adsorption and column experiments were performed by using a typical calcareous soil from southeastern Spain and two different types of dissolved organic carbon, that is, dissolved organic carbon extracts from a commercial peat (DOC-PE) and high-purity tannic acid (DOC-TA). The experiments were carried out from a 0.01 M CaCl2 aqueous medium at 25 degrees C. The results obtained from the sorption experiments show that the presence of both DOC-PE and DOC-TA, over a concentration range of 15 to 100 mg L(-1), produces in all cases a decreasing amount of imidacloprid adsorbed in the soil studied. From the column experiments the retardation coefficients (RC) were calculated for imidacloprid by using either 0.01 M CaCl2 aqueous solution (RC = 2.10), 0.01 M CaCl2 DOC-PE solution (RC = 1.65), or 0.01 M CaCl2 DOC-TA solution (RC = 1.87). The results indicate that mobility of imidacloprid is increased 21.4 and 11.0% in the presence of DOC-PE and DOC-TA solutions, respectively. Dissolved organic carbon reduces imidacloprid sorption by competing with the pesticide molecules for sorption sites on the soil surface, allowing enhanced leaching of imidacloprid and potentially increasing ground water contamination.