Surface and interface properties of benzethonium chloride-montmorillonite

Abstract

In this work, Montmorillonite (Mt) obtained from Tokat, Reşadiye region having 0.91 mmol/g cation exchange capacity was modified by using Benzethonium Chloride (BZT). Organoclays, from Mt and BTZ, were prepared by using conventional and microwave heating methods and BTZ in amounts equivalent to 50%, 100% or 200% of CEC of clay. The samples were characterized by XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM, Thermal analyses and Zeta Potential measurements. Kinetic experiments revealed that adsorption kinetic of BTZ was very fast when the BTZ amount was less than 80% of CEC. The adsorption kinetics fitted to pseudo second order kinetic model for BTZ amounts of 80% and 100% CEC. Adsorption behavior of BTZ on montmorillonite was explained by Sips isotherm model. XRD results indicated that the basal spacing of the clay increased up to 2.85 nm with increasing amount of BTZ and a pseudo trimolecular layer formed in the interlayer. The results of Zeta potential measurements and XRD analyses confirmed the distribution of BTZ between external and internal surfaces.