SURFACTANT-MODIFIED KAOLIN - ADSORBENT FOR OCHRATOXIN A AND KETOPROFEN

This study investigates the potential of surfactant-modified kaolin as an adsorbent for two different purposes: the decontamination of animal feed and the removal of pharmaceuticals from water. The model substances selected for this research were ochratoxin A (OCHRA), a mycotoxin commonly found in animal feed, and ketoprofen (KET), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often detected in water sources. The natural kaolin was modified with quaternary ammonium salt (hexadecyltrimethylammonium – HDTMA bromide) in an amount equal to 50% of kaolin's cation exchange capacity (CEC). The successful modification was confirmed by two characterization methods - Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Adsorption experiments were performed at different initial concentrations of investigated pollutants at pH 7. The results of this study reveal that the modification of kaolin with organic cations significantly enhances its ability to adsorb both OCHRA and KET, with adsorption efficiency increasing as the concentration of investigated analytes rise. This research demonstrates that surfactant-modified kaolin exhibits high adsorption capacity for both contaminants, with significant improvement in removal efficiency compared to unmodified kaolin, highlighting its potential as an effective adsorbent for environmental and health risks associated with these substances.