Physical-chemical properties and possible applications of clay minerals and humic acid composite materials

Pollution caused by pharmaceuticals has become an increasingly serious issue, therefore innovative and cost – effective methods of pharmaceutical’s removal must be studied. Clay – humic acid composite materials can be considered as prospective and low cost sorbents for contaminants. The aim of this study is to develop clay mineral and humic acid composite materials and to characterise their possible applications. For this research, three types of clay minerals (montmorillonite, kaolinite and bentonite) were modified with three types of humic substances: technical humic acid from lignite, humic substances extracted from raised bog peat and technical K humate from lignite. The sorption was characterised according to the chosen clay mineral and humic acid type and concentration. The obtained material was characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Scanning Electron microscopy. The composite materials were tested for sorption of pharmaceuticals (chloropromazine hydrochloride). The obtained results characterise clay mineral and humic acid composite materials’ possible applications as sorbents for removal of pharmacologically active substances.