Comparison Between Long- and Short-Chain Organoclays for Oil Removal from Salty Waters

Two commercial powdered organoclays, Cloisite 15A and Cloisite 30B, as long-chain organoclays, and two organically modified clays with tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA-clay), as short-chain organoclays were used in this study to investigate their potentials for crude oil removal from salty waters. Batch experiments were performed to examine the effect of contact time and pH on the adsorption process. The results showed that the equilibrium time was reached within 25–30 and 50–55 minutes of contact time for long and short-chain organoclays, respectively. In addition, adsorption isotherms were obtained at an optimum pH value of 11.73 and temperature of 19°C for which initial oil contents varied in the range of 100 to 2000 ppm. Experimental results indicated that the sorption of oil onto Cloisite 15A, Cloisite 30B and the organically modified clays can be described by Freundlich isotherm and oil sorption followed the order of modified Cloisite Na > Cloisite 30B > Cloisite 15A > a modified local clay.