Modification of Clay for multi-purpose end use and applications

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Materials Science & Engineering

October 06-08, 2014 Hilton San Antonio Airport, USA

Felix E Okieimen, Theresa O Egbuchunam and G Obi

Accepted Abstracts: Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Clays find wide range of applications in various areas of science due to their natural abundance and the propensity with which they can be chemically and physically modified to suit practical technological needs. In this study, organobentonites were synthesised, characterized and used as adsorbents to remediate organic contaminants in hydrocarbon spills and effluents from the petroleum refining industry. The organobentonites prepared using cetyl tri-ammonium bromide (CTAB) was characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the bentonite clay was 165 meq/100g of clay. Adsorptive properties of the obtained material was in accordance with its organophylicity

Biography :

Theresa O. Egbuchunam, is an Associate Professor of Materials Chemistry and presently the Head, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. She has extensive research experience in the chemistry of polymer materials and has written and published extensively in local and international journals with over 30 journal publications.