@article{UnuabonahGuenterWeberetal.2013,
  author    = {Unuabonah, Emmanuel I. and G{\"u}nter, Christina and Weber, Jens and Lubahn, Susanne and Taubert, Andreas},
  title     = {Hybrid Clay - a new highly efficient adsorbent for water treatment},
  series = {ACS sustainable chemistry \& engineering},
  volume    = {1},
  journal   = {ACS sustainable chemistry \& engineering},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {American Chemical Society},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {2168-0485},
  doi       = {10.1021/sc400051y},
  pages     = {966 -- 973},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {New hybrid clay adsorbent based on kaolinite clay and Carica papaya seeds with improved cation exchange capacity (CEC), rate of heavy metal ion uptake, and adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions were prepared. The CEC of the new material is ca. 75 meq/100 g in spite of the unexpectedly low surface area (approximate to 19 m(2)/g). Accordingly, the average particle size of the hybrid clay adsorbent decreased from over 200 to 100 pm. The hybrid clay adsorbent is a highly efficient adsorbent for heavy metals. With an initial metal concentration of 1 mg/L, the hybrid clay adsorbent reduces the Cd2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+ concentration in aqueous solution to <= 4, <= 7 and <= 20 mu g/L, respectively, from the first minute to over 300 min using a fixed bed containing 2 g of adsorbent and a flow rate of approximate to 7 mL/min. These values are (with the exception of Pb2+) in line with the WHO permissible limits for heavy metal ions. In a cocktail solution of Cd2+, and Ni2+, the hybrid clay shows a reduced rate of uptake but an increased adsorption capacity. The CEC data suggest that the adsorption of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+ on the hybrid clay adsorbent is essentially due to ion exchange. This hybrid clay adsorbent is prepared from materials that are abundant and by a simple means that is sustainable, easily recovered from aqueous solution, nonbiodegradable (unlike numerous biosorbent), and easily regenerated and is a highly efficient alternative to activated carbon for water treatment.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{UnuabonahTaubert2014,
  author    = {Unuabonah, Emmanuel I. and Taubert, Andreas},
  title     = {Clay-polymer nanocomposites (CPNs): Adsorbents of the future for water treatment},
  series = {Applied clay science : an international journal on the application and technology of clays and clay minerals},
  volume    = {99},
  journal   = {Applied clay science : an international journal on the application and technology of clays and clay minerals},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0169-1317},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.clay.2014.06.016},
  pages     = {83 -- 92},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {A class of adsorbents currently receiving growing attention is the clay-polymer nanocomposite (CPN) adsorbents. CPNs effectively treat water by adsorption and flocculation of both inorganic and organic micropollutants from aqueous solutions. Some of these CPNs - when modified with biocides - also have the ability to efficiently remove microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans from water. CPNs are far more easily recovered from aqueous media than neat clay. They also exhibit far better treatment times than either polymer or clay adsorbents. They have higher adsorption capacity and better life cycles compared with clay alone. CPNs therefore show an excellent potential as highly efficient water and waste treatment agents. This article reviews the various CPNs that have been prepared recently and used as adsorbents in the removal of micropollutants (inorganic, organic and biological) from aqueous solutions. A special focus is placed on CPNs that are not only interesting from an academic point of view but also effectively reduce the concentration of micropollutants in water to safe limits and also on new developments bordering on CPN use as water treatment agent that have not yet realized their full potential. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
  language  = {en}
}