Adsorption–desorption of 2,4-D by hydroxy aluminium montmorillonite complexes

Abstract

Adsorption–desorption characteristics of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on pure montmorillonite and synthetic chlorite-like complexes [Al(OH)x-montmorillonite complexes, obtained by coating montmorillonite surfaces with different amounts of Al(OH)x] were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption of 2,4-D was described by both Langmuir and Freundlich type isotherms. The extent of adsorption as well as the type of interaction between adsorbate and adsorbent was affected by the nature of incubation buffer and the charge characteristics of supports. At pH 5·6 and in acetate buffer, 2,4-D was negatively adsorbed by montmorillonite and herbicide adsorption capacity increased with increasing amounts of Al(OH)x species loaded on montmorillonite surfaces. When adsorption experiments were performed at the same pH but in phosphate buffer, strong reductions of both the amount of adsorbed pesticide and its affinity for the adsorbents were measured. Evidently, phosphate anions competed strongly with 2,4-D anions for the sorption site on chlorite-like complexes. Furthermore, desorption tests revealed that a large amount (about 60%) of the pesticide was firmly bound to the clay and was not removed even after repeated washings or 24 h exposure to desorption solution. Both electrostatic interactions between the negative COO- moieties of 2,4-D and the positive sites on clays, and ligand exchanges of COO- groups with -OH or water at the clay surface were probably involved in the adsorption process. ©1997 SCI