Sodium montmorillonite nanoclay particles were modified by 3-aminopropyltrimetoxysilane using a physical vapor deposition method and applied for the simultaneous removal of Cd, Zn, Pb and Ni heavy metals from wastewater samples. Experiments were performed in both batch and column systems. Several parameters that influence the removal efficiency, such as the pH, contact time, amount of adsorbent, interfering ions, flow rate of sample passage and eluent solvent, were evaluated and optimized. The results showed that the adsorption isotherms obeyed Langmuir isotherms for all heavy metals. Also, interfering ions did not influenced the removal efficiency. Finally, modified nanoclay successfully could remove all heavy metals from real wastewater samples to near completeness.
Keywords: Nano clay; adsorption; heavy metals; wastewater treatment.