Organoclay applications and limits in the environment

This article gives an overview of the preparation, applications, and limits of organoclay materials in the environment field. Organoclays are obtained by the combination of clay minerals and surfactants (quaternary alkyl ammonium salts and others) and are appropriate candidates for the adsorption of organic contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals that are more and more found in the water resource despite wastewater treatments. This review article focuses on novel organoclay preparation methods based on the use of nonconventional nonionic surfactants and the interest and limits of these hybrid materials for the adsorption of organic compounds at both batch equilibrium and dynamical percolation experimental conditions.