Surface acid-base properties montmorillonites

When studying the surface acid-base properties of montmorillonite, it is essential to understand that hydrogen ions and cations of the support electrolyte can also participate in cation-exchange processes. The processes on the internal and external surfaces have to be taken into consideration simultaneously, and they both have to be included into the equilibrium thermodynamical models. 

For the interpretation of the results using the surface-complexation model, reactions 2.47-2.53 have to be taken into account. In addition, the surface acid-base properties and the neutralization reactions of the layer charge have to be included as in Section 2.4.2 the parameters determined there are treated as fixed, input data. In the case of copper- and zinc-montmorillonite, the copper and zinc concentration of the solution and solid also have to be determined, and these data have to be taken into consideration. That is, the quantity of the total sorbed valine and the copper or zinc ion concentrations versus pH function can be fitted, and KH2Valx, KAioH2Vai> and KSi0CuVal stability constants can be computed. The results of the parameter fit for copper- and zinc-montmorillonites as well as the obtained stability constants are shown in Figures 2.17 and 2.18, and in Table 2.12, respectively. 

Some characteristic properties of bentonites (CEC, sorption properties) are mainly governed by the montmorillonite content and the layer charge of montmorillonite. Other properties, however, depend on the circumstances under which the rock is formed. These are particle size distribution, external specific surface area, and surface acid-base properties. The quantity of the edge sites mainly depends on the specific surface area. The protonation and deprotonation reactions take place on the edge sites of other silicates and aluminosilicates present beside montmorillonite, so their effects manifest via surface reactions. Consequently, the origin of bentonite determines all properties that are related to external surfaces. 

Bentonite rocks have many uses in the chemical and oil industries and also in agriculture and environmental protection. The usefulness of bentonite for each of these applications is based on its interfacial properties. These properties are determined by geological origin, chemical and mineral composition (especially montmorillonite content), and particle size distribution, and they include the specific surface area (internal and external), cation-exchange capacity (CEC), acid-base properties of the edge sites, viscosity, swelling, water permeability, adsorption of different substances, and migration rate of soluble substances in bentonite clay. 

Keywords Montmorillonite Acid-base properties Surface complexa-tion model Particle aggregation Rheology... 

P. Zarzyeki and F. Thomas. Theoretical study of the acid-base properties of the montmorillonite/electrolyte interface influence of the surface heterogeneity and ionic strength of the potentiometric titration curves. Journal of Colloid Interface Science, 302 (2006), 547-559. 

Boron oxide particles were incorporated to silicone rubber-based mixes containing fumed silica (reinforcing filler) and reference mineral fillers - aluminum hydroxide, wollastonite, calcined kaolin, mica (phlogipite) and surface modified montmorillonite with dimethyl-dihydrogenatedtal-low quaternary ammonium salt. Acidic character of boron oxide, which can disturb the peroxide curing process, was compensated by addition of magnesium oxide. The influence of boron oxide particles on properties of composites was determined and mechanism of their ceramization process studied. 

The use of a commercial Cloisite 20A organoclay to prepare SBS-based nanocomposites by melt processing was recently reported [63]. In this case, the nanocomposite morphology was characterized by a combination of intercalated and partly exfoliated clay platelets, with occasional clay aggregates present at higher clay content. For this particular thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposite system, well-dispersed nanoclays lead to enhanced stiffness and ductility, suggesting promising improvements in nanocomposite creep performance. The use of stearic acid as a surface modifier of montmorillonite clay to effectively improve the clay dispersion in the SBS matrix and the mechanical properties of the SBS-clay nanocomposites was reported [64]. 

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