H+-rectorite clay,which was prepared by modifying the raw rectorite with 10% hydrochloric acid at 60 °C for 24 h,was used as an absorbent for removal of methyl blue (MB) from aqueous solutions.The morphology and the structure and crystallinity of the pristine rectorite and the H+-rectorite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique,respectively.The results showed that the H+-rectorite exhibited high adsorption ability than the raw rectorite,and it was found that the removal percentage of MB increased with increasing in adsorbents dose,whereas the adsorption amount qe (mg/g) decreased.The equilibrium was attained within 30 min in adsorption process,and the maximum adsorption capacity of H+-rectorite for methylene blue reached as high as 37 mg/g.Besides,the effect of temperature on the adsorption of MB with H+-rectorite was investigated and the equilibrium data were well fitted to Freundlich equations.The H+-rectorite absorbent saturated with MB can be regenerated by calcinating at 400 °C for 2 h and the regenerated absorbent still showed higher percentage removal of MB.
