Fabrication of a New Type Modified Attapulgite and its Best Adsorption Conditions of Cu2+ Ion

A new method is proposed to treat attapulgite by freeze-dying and heating process. The treated attapulgite presents good adsorption properties. The best adsorption conditions were studied by a series of tests on attapulgite’s adsorption on Cu2+ ion. The photos of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on treated attapulgite show the higher dispersion property, and the IR spectroscopy of treated attapulgite exhibits the lessening of adsorption water, zeolite water and coordinate water contents. At room temperature, the best adsorption conditions are pH = 4±0.2 and the solid to liquid ratio is about 3 g/L. After 40 min, the adsorption experiments achieved balance status, the most adsorption mass is about 39.43 mg/g.