Mechanistic pathways of cationic and anionic surfactants sorption by kaolinite in water.

Surfactants are widely used in many chemical industries and as primary components of cleaning detergents due to their specific characteristics, which in turn results in high pollution of domestic and industrial wastewaters by such substances. In this study, the mechanistic pathways of the adsorption of cationic benzyl-dimethyl-dodecyl ammonium bromide (BDDAB) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants on kaolinite clay in water were investigated. The results showed that the adsorption of anionic surfactant (SDS) on kaolinite is better compared with cationic surfactant (BDDAB), wherein the ♦maximum adsorption capacity was found 161.