• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2021

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), the multiwalled clay mineral with the composition of Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄·nH₂O, have been highlighted as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of dyes from wastewater. Although a powder of halloysite presents a high specific surface area, forming media are significantly considered due to sludge-clogging induced by the water-bound agglomeration. However, higher firing temperature to achieve the structural durability of the media and lower utilization rate due to longer penetration depth into the media act as hurdles to increase the dye-adsorption capacity. In this work, the retention of the adsorption capacity of halloysite was evaluated with methylene blue solution after the heat treatment at 750 ℃. In order to improve the utilization rate, tubular media were fabricated by extrusion. The images taken by transmission electron microscopy show that HNTs present excellent structural stability under heat treatment. The HNTs also provide superb capacity retention for MB adsorption (93%, 18.5 mg g^-1), while the diatomite and Magnesol^® XL show 22% (7.65 mg g^-1) and 6% (11.7 mg g^-1), respectively. Additionally, compositing with lignin enhances adsorption capacity, and the heat treatment under the hydrogen atmosphere accelerates the adsorption in the early stage. Compared to the rod-type, the tubular halloysite media rapidly increases methylene blue adsorption capacity.