Synthesis and Characterization of the Hybrid Clay-Based Material Montmorillonite–Melanoidin: A Potential Soil Model

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 74; no. 6; pp. 2239 - 2245
• Main Authors: Vicente Vilas, V, Mathiasch, B, Huth, J, Kratz, J.V, Rubert de la Rosa, S, Michel, P, Schäfer, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison Soil Science Society 01.11.2010; Soil Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; chemical structure; Clay; Clay minerals; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; elementary particles; Environmental science; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geosphere; glutamic acid; humic substances; Maillard reaction; Melanoidin; Methods; microstructure; Minerals; Molecular weight; Montmorillonite; NMR; Nuclear chemistry; Nuclear magnetic resonance; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; organic compounds; Organic materials; Organic matter; Scanning electron microscopy; scanning transmission X-ray microscopy; soil organic matter; Soil science; Soils; spatial distribution; Spectrum analysis; Spots; Studies; Surficial geology; Thermal analysis; thermal properties; tyrosine; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; models; Hybrid; Potential; Earth science; Modeling; smectite; montmorillonite; materials; clay minerals; sheet silicates; silicates; Soil science; soils; characterization
• ISSN: 0361-5995; 1435-0661; 1435-0661
• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2009.0454

The study of the interactions among metals, minerals, and humic substances is essential in understanding the migration of inorganic pollutants in the geosphere. A considerable amount of organic matter in the environment is associated with clay minerals. To understand the role of organic matter in the environment and its association with clay minerals, a hybrid clay-based material (HCM), montmorillonite (STx-1)–melanoidin, was prepared from l-tyrosine and l-glutamic acid by the Maillard reaction. The HCM was characterized by elemental analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning transmission x-ray microscopy (STXM), and thermal analysis. The presence of organic materials on the surface was confirmed by XPS and STXM. The STXM results showed the presence of organic spots on the surface of the STx-1 and the characterization of the functional groups present in those spots. Thermal analysis confirmed the existence of organic materials in the montmorillonite interlayer, indicating the formation of a composite of melanoidin and montmorillonite. The melanoidin appeared to be located partially between the layers of montmorillonite and partially at the surface, forming a structure that resembles the way a cork sits on the top of a champagne bottle.