Adsorption and Recovery of Ionic Surfactants by β-Cyclodextrin Polymer

The adsorption and recovery of ionic surfactants, such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBS) and benzalkonium chloride (BKC), from an aqueous solution were studied using the β-cyclodextrin polymer (β-CDP). BKC always demonstrated a higher adsorption efficiency than DBS in batch tests, isotherms, and column tests. The adsorption characteristics of the surfactants seemed to be caused by inclusion into β-CD, and they were easily determined using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Furthermore, the surfactants adsorbed by β-CDP were easily released by shaking it with a mixture of water and methanol. Recovery efficiency was dependent on the mixture ratio of the solvent, and regenerated β-CDP was reusable as an adsorbent.