The purpose of this work is to synthesize a new type of bentonite sorbent that can simultaneously remove both organic compounds and phosphate from water.Inorgan-ic-organic bentonites(Al-CTMAB-Bent)were synthesized by modifying bentonites with both AlCl3 and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide(CTMAB).Simultaneous sorption of aqueous phenanthrene and phosphate onto Al-CTMAB-Bent was examined.Removal rates of phenanthrene and phosphate from water reached 96.3% and 90.2%,respectively,at their respective initial concentrations of 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L and the added amount of Al-CTMAB-Bent was 1.25 g/L.The residual turbidity of the Al-CTMAB-Bent suspension decreased 81.4% compared to that of organobentonite sus-pension after a 1 h settling time.Thus,inorganic-organic ben-tonite can be used to treat wastewater containing both organic pollutants and phosphate.
