Morphological and Microstructural Characterization of Organoclays from Low Smectite Containing Clays Materials

Two low smectite-containing clay materials were modified, using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMAB) as intercalating agents, under very mild experimental conditions, to investigate their potentials as suitable organoclays for industrial and environmental applications. Changes in the general morphological and microstructural characteristics were studied by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Brauner Emmet Taylor (BET) Analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) before and after modification. The shift in XRD reflections after intercalation indicated that the HDTMA chains adopt monolayer and bilayer arrangements within the clay interlayers and were largely dependent on the reaction time and surfactant loading. This resulted in decreased specific surface area and increased pore sizes in the organoclay samples. The presence of typical CH stretching bands in the new materials was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Mass loss from TGA showed that the new materials were thermally stable, the amount of organic modifier in the organoclays were in good agreement with the theoretically calculated contents. The intercalated materials were hydrophobic, stable, biocompatible and were suitable materials for several industrial and environmental applications.