The kaolinite clay samples from Capim River region, Pará state, Brazil, were intercalated with dimethylsulfoxide - DMSO. The natural and intercalated kaolinite were used in adsorption process with Zn(II) in aqueous medium at pH 5.0 and controlled temperature of 298 ± 1K. The physical-chemical properties of kaolinite samples were optimized for the intercalation process, such as: specific area of 14.74 to 91.72 m²g-1 (A1) and pore diameter of 2.79 to 10.72 nm (A1). The adsorption experimental results were analyzed for Langmuir, Temkin and Freundlich models, the Langmuir model has been presented best approximation with experimental adsorption isotherms data. These results best fitted the second order kinetic of Lagergren model with rate constant K2, in the range of 4.76x10-3 to 11.81x10-3 g(mmol.min)-1 (A2). The adsorption process was very fast and equilibrium was approached within 180 min.
kaolinite; adsorption; isotherms; kinetics
