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The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

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Abstract Volume 24 (2019) pp 114-117

An Adsorption Experiment Utilizing Bentonite, a Green and Inexpensive Clay

Madelyn E. Dulin and James E. House*

Department of Chemistry, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 61701 jhouse@iwu.edu
Received August 6, 2019. Accepted August 29, 2019.

Published: 22 September 2019

Abstract. Although there have been numerous published experiments dealing with adsorption from solutions, those involving the adsorption of metal ions are not numerous. Clays are widely used as adsorbents, and bentonite is a widely available and inexpensive clay. In this report, several aspects of the adsorption of Cu²⁺ by bentonite are described. Only simple equipment and procedures are involved making such studies accessible to students in lower level laboratory courses. The effects of amount of clay, temperature, and time are described. The results show that adsorption is an endothermic process and that for a given amount of clay the adsorption process follows a rate law that is first-order in Cu²⁺ concentration. Several extensions of the work are suggested in order to make the adsorption of Cu²⁺ or other metal ions by bentonite suitable for study by more advanced students.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; general chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: jhouse@iwu.edu)

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