Preparation and characterization of organofunctionalized bentonite clay bearing aminophosphonic groups in heavy metal uptake

Abstract Bentonite (Bnt) with covalently immobilized N-propylaminodi(methylenephosphonic) groups (Bnt-ADPA) was obtained through a two-step synthesis including aminosilanization and phosphorylation of resulting aminobentonite through Moedritzer-Irani reaction. The grafting of an aminosilane layer in the interplanar space of the bentonite was investigated by XRD, and the presence of N and P-containing groups was confirmed by FTIR, 31P and 29Si MAS NMR. The immobilization of the organic functional groups increased the interplanar distance in bentonite matrix at 52% that essentially improved filtration properties compared to raw bentonite. The number of surface acid groups was evaluated to 0.8…