ORGANOPHILIC CLAY FOR OIL/WATER SEPARATION PROCESS BY FINITE BATH TESTS

Abstract

This study examines the inclusion of a quaternary ammonium salt, an alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl ammonium chloride (Dodigen), on a green clay to evaluate its performance as an organophilic adsorbent in the oil/water separation process. The samples were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Differential Thermal and Thermogravimetric Analyses, Infrared Spectroscopy, Cation Exchange Capacity, Adsorption Capacity and the Foster Swelling test. The results indicated that the quaternary ammonium salts were intercalated between the layers of clay. A 2 2 -factorial design was conducted with three central points in finite bath tests to determine the rate and capacity of oil removal by the organophilic clays. Values as high as 94.54 % of removal efficiency and 37.57 mg/g of removal capacity were reached in the assays, thus indicating that the use of organophilic clay has great potential in the oil/water separation process.