Improved adsorption and desorption behavior of Cd on thiol-modified bentonite grafted with cysteamine hydrochloride

Clay adsorbents are considered an inexpensive and readily available solution for removing heavy metals, including cadmium, from the environment to reduce pollution. In this study, thiol-modified bentonite (SH-Bent) was prepared by grafting cysteamine hydrochloride onto natural bentonite (Bent). The effects of pH, equilibrium contact time, and temperature on the adsorption–desorption behavior of Cd 2+ were studied, and adsorption isotherm models were applied to examine the adsorption behavior of SH-bent. SH-Bent demonstrated better performance and stability for Cd 2+ adsorption than Bent. SH-Bent exhibited an enhanced adsorption capacity for Cd 2+ at equilibrium of 49.3 mg/g at pH 6, 120 min, and 303 K, which was 42-fold higher than that of Bent under the same conditions. An investigation of the desorption behavior of Cd 2+ adsorbed on Bent and SH-Bent in simulated acid rain revealed that SH-Bent has high stability, with a desorption rate of 5.73% at pH 4.5, 60 min, and 303 K, which was much lower than that demonstrated by Bent under the same conditions (45.68%). The Langmuir equation was the best-fitted adsorption isotherm model, closely followed by the Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. A significant difference in diffusion was observed between the two types of clay according to the intraparticle diffusion model. The adsorption–desorption processes of SH-Bent and Bent fit the pseudo-second-order model best among the five kinetic models examined. The information provided in this study can be used to apply thiol-modified clay for wastewater treatment or for the removal of cadmium from soil. Graphical abstract