Search

This study was mainly focused on exploring the possible intercalation of block-(diblock or triblock) copolymers into montmorillonite (Mt) to obtain clay mineral polymer nanocomposites (CPN) aiming to increase the interlayer space and application of Mt. The extent of the effect on interlayer space of Mt during reaction was studied in details. N 2 adsorption isotherms and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were used to confirm the formation of CPN. It was found that the intercalation of polymers enhanced the interlayer space of Mt along with a shift of [001] plane 2θ (6.8°) to lower values. The corresponding interlayer space was increased from 12.65 A to 40.85 A. The intercalation of polymers to form CPN favors both structural orientations and functional groups for the preferential adsorption of both ionic (cationic and anionic inorganic) and non-ionic (organic, NOC) pollutants. Uptake of both organic (toluene; ethylbenzene; and xylene; in brief TEX) and inorganic (Cu 2 + , Pb 2 + and Cr 2 O 7 2 − ) pollutants were explored and highlighted in this study. The observed log K OC values for the distribution of organic pollutants onto CPN are significantly high in this study. In all cases the adsorption of Pb 2 + was comparatively larger than that of Cu 2 + . Among all the obtained CPN, M-D-DMF displayed enhanced adsorption of both organic and inorganic pollutants and hence it was concluded as a potential candidate.