Sorption of benzoic acid from aqueous solution by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide modified birnessite

Layered manganese oxide (birnessite) has been studied for its use as catalytic materials. The research presented in this study investigates the sorption of benzoic acid from water on synthesized cetyltrimethylammonium bromide modified birnessite (CTAB-birnessite). The synthesized CTAB-birnessite was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The experimental results of sorption kinetic were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order equation. The sorption isotherms were linear at different pH values, and it indicates a partition mechanism. Up to about 53% of the dissolved benzoic acid was sorbed by CTAB-birnessite; in contrast, only 16% of the dissolved benzoic acid was sorbed by birnessite. These results indicate that CTAB-birnessite can be a potential sorbent for benzoic acid removal.