Kaolinite surface area, cation exchange capacity

Kahr, G., and F. T. Madsen. 1995. Determination of cation exchange capacity and surface area of bentonite, illite, and kaolinite by methylene blue adsorption. Appl. Clay Sci. 

Sakurai, K., Teshima, A., and Kyuma, K., Changes in zero point of charge (ZPC), specific surface area (SSA), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of kaolinite and montmorillonite, and strongly weathered soils caused by Fe and Al coatings. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr, 36, 73, 1990. 

Representative data for soil minerals are presented in Table 2.Ill and 2.IV, taken from the publication of Greenland and Quirk (1962). Montmorillonite has the highest surface area, ranging up to 800 m /g. This means that a 10-g sample has an area of approximately two acres or four-fifths of a hectare. This is certainly an impressive value. Kaolinites have surface areas ranging between 10 and 40 m /g, whereas illites have values intermediate between montmorillonite and kaolin. Cation exchange capacities tend to vary directly with surface areas. Of course the importance of the surface area depends upon the activity of the surface, particularly toward water. 

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