Characterization and Potential Use of Kombé Clay Materials in the Adsorption of Chromate and Nitrate Ions
Jean Claude Bibila Mafoumba
*
Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Denis Sassou N’guesso University, Kintélé, Republic of Congo and Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Marien N’gouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Zita Flora Diamouangana Mpissi
Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Marien N’gouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo and Ecole Normale Supérieure, Marien N’gouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Merline Lady Kouhounina Banzouzi
Faculté des Sciences Appliquées, Denis Sassou N’guesso University, Kintélé, Republic of Congo and Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Marien N’gouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Erman Praise Nzaba Madila
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Hydrogen Research Institute (HRI), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), 3351 Boulevard des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada and Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, GreenH2Lab, Hydrogen Research Institute (HRI), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), 3351 boulevards des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada.
Moutou Joseph-Marie
Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Marien N’gouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This work aims to evaluate the ability of Kombé clays, in the Republic of Congo, to adsorb chromate and nitrate ions in water. To do this, we first characterized the clay to obtain information on its physicochemical and mineralogical properties. We then performed chromate and nitrate ion adsorption tests on this material to assess its adsorption capacity.
To characterize the Kombé clay, we used several analytical techniques, such as particle size distribution and Atterberg limits, X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and specific surface area (SS). The results obtained show that the Kombé clay is plastic and composed of 52% clay, 18% silt, and 30% sand, with a predominance of kaolinite and a significant amount of quartz. Its CEC is 3 meq/100 g and its SS is 16 m²/g. Adsorption tests conducted on this clay indicate that it can be used for the adsorption of chromate and nitrate ions. The adsorption results show that Kombé clay removes 2.59% of chromate ions and 15.94% of nitrate ions.
In light of these results, this study reveals that Kombé clay can be used in the treatment of polluted water as an adsorbent, as well as in applications for traditional and structural ceramics (bricks, tiles, etc.). However, this adsorption capacity is low and needs to be improved.
Keywords: Clay material, Kombé, characterization, adsorption, physicochemical and mineralogical properties