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Di-p-anisyltelluritrichloride-MM (CH3OPhTeCl3-MM), bi-phenyltelluride-MM (Ph2Te-MM) octadecytrimethylammonium-MM (ODTMA-MM), tetrabutylammonium-MM (TBA-clay), and cetylpyridium-MM (CP-MM) were prepared and characterized to be used for further investigations as adsorbents of organic contaminants including chlorinated phenols and aromatic pesticides. The purpose of this work was to study the behaviour of a local material montmorillonite clay and to look at the ability of this montmorillonite exchanged first with selective long chain alkylamines such as ODTMA, TBA and CP and second with tellurium complexes to sorb environmentally dangerous materials such as chlorinated phenols from aqueous solutions. The work involves synthesis complexes. The method of preparation of some complexes are reported. The complex products has been further characterized by elemental analysis and infra-red spectroscopy.

The three selective long chain alkylammonium cations TBA, CP, ODTMA and tellerium complexes (Ph2Te and (CH3OPhTeCl3) were successfully exchanged onto montmorillonite. IR and AA (atomic absorption) are giving evidence for the molecules and complexes being intercalated onto the clay. This work has provided a basis in showing that tellerium complexes exchanged clays will promising to be used as sorbents of pollutants from aqueous solutions, but further developments need be made. Since a systematic study is in progress and some important parameters are being done such as temperature, pH and solvent which could enhance the adsorbance of pollutants. The following organotellurium donors compounds bi-phenyltelluride (C12H10Te) and di-p-anisyltelluritrichloride (C7H7OTeCl3) were chosen and synthesised following the indicated literature methods cited above. The presence of methoxy groups on the benzene ring renders the material susceptible to attack.