Smectite clays properties

Vaccari (1983,1999) has given a state-of-the-art account of the preparation and catalytic properties of cationic and anionic clays. Some examples of industrial importance have also been reported. Clays exhibit many desirable features, such as low cost, wide range of preparation variables, ease of set-up and wOrk-up, high selectivity, and environmental friendliness. Cationic clays are widespread in nature, whereas anionic clays are rarely found in nature, but they can be synthesized cheaply. Cationic clays are prepared from the minerals but industrial anionic clays are generally synthetic. Smectite clays exhibit both Brpnsted and Lewis acid sites on the edges of the crystals. Hammet s acidity function values are as follows Na -montmorillonite (M), -3 to t- 1.5 NH4VM -3 to 1.5 H M -8.2 to -5.6 acid activated clay less than -8.2. Laporte also has a synthetic version of cationic clays, Laponite. The acid... 

Many of the same ionic surfactants used for the assembly of mesostructured molecular sieve catalysts [1-4] and related bulk phases [5] can be intercalated in a variety of layered host structures [6]. We have recently demonstrated that some of these mesostructure - forming surfactants retain their structure directing properties when intercalated in the galleries of smectite clays. In a manner quite analogous to bulk mesostructure formation, the intercalated surfactants direct the assembly of an open framework metal oxide (silica) structure within the constrained gallery regions of the layered host (7). The resulting porous intercalates are referred to as porous clay heterostructures (PCH). 

The oxidation state of iron in smectite clay minerals may vary between Fe3+ and Fe2+, either through natural or laboratory processes, with accompanying changes in chemical and physical properties ... 

Advancements in the preparation of new PLS s nearly parallels that of the zeolite and zeolite-like phases. Initially the pillared smectite clays were investigated but the quest for new materials with new properties led to e qiloring the pillaring of other layered phases. These include, most notably, the layered zirconium phosphates, double hydroxides (hydrotalcites), sihcas and metal oxides. The parallel paths of discovery in new material compositions for the layered phases and the microporous (zeoUte) phases are summarized in Table 1. A conq>arison between the pore architectures of the zeohtes and the two dimensional PLS is shown in Table 2. 

Our interest in this approach towards catalyst synthesis originated from previous studies by Ghosh and co-workers on the spectral properties of intercalated poly(pyridyl) Ru(II) chelates adsorbed on smectite clays [3-6]. Previous work by the authors on clay-catalysed organic reactions is noted [7-9]. 

Smectite clays have three important properties related to catalytic activity, intercalation, swelling and cation exchange capacity. When smectites are immersed in water, both intercalation of water molecules and swelling occur. The suspended clay can also freely exchange its interlayer cations for other cations in solution. Interlayer water molecules are dissociated producing protons and exhibit Bronsted acidity (Reaction l).8... 

Smectite clays consist of 1 nm thick aluminosilicate layers separated by sodium and calcium counterions. As little as 1 to 5 wt% of these layered clays can significantly improve the mechanical properties of nylon, polyolefins, and other polymers (78). Delaminating the clay structure by replacement of the sodium or calcium ions with a polymer-compatible surfactant, a quaternary ammonium ion surfactant, for example, is essential to generate a large polymer-clay interfacial area, as shown in Figure 11.21 (79). Ammonium ion head groups of the dispersant bind to the surface of the clay by Coulombic forces, and the hydrophobic alkyl tails bind to the polymer by van der Waals forces. 

The effect in Figure 19 is reversible and can be innumerately repeated The transparent and opaque states exhibit the memoiy effect after the applied current switched off, plots (b) and (d) in Figure 19. The study of the intercalated nanocomposites based on the smectite clays reveals that the optical and elecro-optical properties depend on the degree of intercalation [81],... 

Another very important property of smectite clays for pillaring is their ability to be swollen by water. Swelling provides access to the exchange ions on the basal surfaces, and allows facile replacement by pillaring cations. The charge... 

Matsuda, T., Nagashima, H., and Kikuchi, E. 1988. Physical and catalytic properties of smectite clays pillared by alumina in disproportionation of 1,2,4-trimethylben-zene. Appl, Catal, 45 171-182. 

Other interlamellar species. Anionic clays do not show the swelling properties of materials such as smectite clays which can intercalate a large amount of water molecules or other... 

General structure of smectite clays and their properties... 

Montmorillonite (MMT), a smectite clay, is probably the most extensively studied nanomaterial in terms of mechanical, thermal, fire retardant or crystallization behavior of polylactide, especially when these nanoparticles are organically modified allowing the achievement of intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites.These nanocomposites show enhanced properties as compared to microcomposites and pristine polymer. However, biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation of PLA in the presence of nanoclays has been investigated to a small extent. 

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