Gels based on calcium alginate/pillared bentonite: structural characterization and their use as cadmium removal agent.

In this work, calcium alginate hydrogels with natural and pillared bentonites (0.5 and 5% w/w) were synthetized in two geometries (disks and beads) and their capacity to adsorb cadmium ion from aqueous media was evaluated. Pillarization effect on bentonite morphology was evidenced by SEM, XRD, LD and BET isotherms.