Interactions of bentonite clay in composite gels of non-ionic polymers with cationic surfactants and heavy metal ions

Abstract

Chemically cross-linked composite gels based on bentonite clay from Manyrak deposit (Kazakhstan Republic) and nonionic polymers, i.e., poly(hydroxyethylacrylate) and poly(acrylamide), were polymerized in situ after preliminary intercalation of monomers in an aqueous suspension of bentonite clay. By means of cryo-scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that bentonite clay is well incorporated into the gel network structure with pore sizes up to 1.5 μm. The intercalated bentonite clay can adsorb cationic surfactants as well as heavy metal ions due to electrostatic interactions. Conductometric and surface tension measurements indicate not only the adsorption of surfactants and heavy metals inside the hydrogel, but also the displacement of the critical micellization concentration (CMC) of the surfactants.