Comparative Study Between Sepiolite and Mg ₃ allayered Double Hydroxide as Clay-Based Materials Used in Water Treatment - A Statistical Approach

Abstract Water contamination is a pressing issue that can have far-reaching consequences for the environment, consumption patterns, agriculture, and industrial activities alike. However, conventional wastewater treatment techniques have proven ineffective in eliminating pharmaceutical compounds from water systems due to their low biodegradability and high hydrophilicity. In this context, adsorption technology has garnered significant interest due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and high treatment efficiency. Among the array of available adsorbents, clays have been identified as a particularly versatile option for water remediation applications, due to their non-toxic nature and cost-effectiveness. Starting from these considerations, in the present study, a factorial ANOVA was conducted to compare the adsorption capacity of sepiolite and Mg 3 Al-LDH in solutions containing either 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid or N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide, at three distinct contact time intervals (5–10 minutes, 15–20 minutes, and 25–30 minutes). Sepiolite demonstrated superior efficacy in the absorption of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide after a contact period of 5-10 minutes, while Mg 3 Al-LDH exhibited a significantly higher absorption capacity for 2-acetyloxybenzoic acid after a contact period of 25-30 minutes