Preparation and Characterization of Highly Purified Montmorillonite

• Published in: Journal of the Clay Science Society of Japan (in Japanese) Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 147 - 155
• Main Authors: SUZUKI, Keizo, TAKAGI, Shinsuke, SATO, Tsutomu, YONEDA, Tetsuro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Clay Science Society of Japan 16.08.2007
• Subjects: CEC; Characterization; Layer charge; Montmorillonite; Purification
• ISSN: 0470-6455; 2186-3563
• DOI: 10.11362/jcssjnendokagaku1961.46.147

Highly purified montmorillonite (HP-Mont) was prepared to understand the original characteristics of montmorillonite by combined treatments such as sedimentation, super centrifugation, treating with alcohol solution, decarbonation with acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer solution, Na-exchange with sodium chloride solution. The prepared montmorillonite was comprehensively characterized, and the characteristics of HP-Mont were compared with commercial montmorillonite (Com-Mont) and summarized as follows; 1. Results of XRD, TG-DTA, CEC, LC measurements showed that the HP-Mont was extremely pure montmorillonite. Layer charge was 0.410 e.s.u./half unit cell, 30% of the layer charge was located in tetrahedral layers, and the rest was in octahedral layers. 2. After removal of quartz and soil organics, the HP-Mont showed white color in powder and transparent in aqueous suspension. 3. Aqueous suspension of the HP-Mont had high viscosity and the viscosity for 1.5% suspension of the HP-Mont was higher than that for 4.0% suspension of the Com-Mont. 4. Aqueous suspension of the HP-Mont was slightly acidic due to removal of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate. 5. The planar size of the HP-Mont was comparatively smaller than that of the Corn-Mont, as the result of separation by supercentrifugation. 6. Zeta potential of the HP-Mont was slightly larger than that of the Corn-Mont, due to the result of removal of soluble salts.