Research on Purification of Attapulgite Clay and Adsorption Characteristics for Metal Cations

Attapulgite clay(ATP) from Xuyi county of China was purified by a wet method then treated with NaOH and 1.0 mol/L, 2.0 mol/L and 3.0 mol/L solutions of HCl. Transmission electron microscope(TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize treated ATP. Results showed that wet purification could remove most of impurities. Treatment by alkaline and HCl of 1.0 mol/L and 2.0 mol/L could increase purity while treatment of 3.0 mol/L hydrochloric acid could dissolve some element of ATP so much as form SiO2 and destroy fiber structure to clips. Adsorption experiments of Fe3+ and Ni2+ from aqueous solutions were done using original ATP, purified ATP and treated ATP as absorbents. Results showed that Attapulgite could adsorb metal cations in significant amounts. Sodium hydroxide activation had little influence on adsorption capacity. Influences of acid treatments to ATP on adsorption capacity varied on different concentration solutions.