Removal of formaldehyde from aqueous solution by adsorption on kaolin and bentonite: a comparative study

Authors: MUHAMMAD SALMAN, MAKSHOOF ATHAR, UMER SHAFIQUE, RABIA REHMAN, SADIA AMEER, SANA ZULFIQAR ALI, MUHAMMAD AZEEM

Abstract: The adsorption of formaldehyde on bentonite and kaolin was studied in batch mode. Parameters like adsorbent dose, pH, contact time and agitation speed were investigated. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were employed for describing adsorption equilibrium. The maximum amounts of formaldehyde adsorbed (q_{max}), as evaluated by Langmuir isotherm, were 3.41 and 5.03 milligrams per gram of ground kaolin and bentonite, respectively. The study results led to the conclusion that kaolin and bentonite, vastly available inorganic clays, have good potential as adsorbents to remove toxic organic pollutants such as formaldehyde from water.

Keywords: Adsorption, formaldehyde, isotherms, kaolin, bentonite

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