Development and characterization of chlorophyll-amended montmorillonite clays for the adsorption and detoxification of benzene

•Novel chlorophyll-amended clays were developed to remediate and detoxify benzene.•Chlorophyll-amended clays showed favorable binding profiles and thermodynamics.•Molecular simulations suggested van der waals forces as the main adsorption mechanism.•Chlorophyll-amended clays protected L.minor and C.elegans against benzene toxicity.