Surface and textural characterization of TiO2 pillared organoclays

Abstract

TiO 2 organoclays are potential adsorbents for aqueous pollutants and subsequently they could favour the photocatalysis of them. For this reason, the study of their surface and textural characteristics is important for the improvement of those processes. In this work TiO 2 pillared organoclays were studied. The surfactant (hexadecyltrimethilammonium bromide) was introduced post-pillaring or during the pillaring process. The effect of the use of different acids of hydrolysis and different surfactants ratios was investigated. The clays were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy and nitrogen sorptometry. It was found that the highest adsorption capacity post-pillaring of the surfactant is near to 0.5 times the CEC of the original pillared clay, independently of the amount of surfactant offered. An increment in the amount of the surfactant introduced only increased the ratio adsorbed as ionic pair. In these samples the CEC measured after the adsorption was between 0.26 and 0.47 times the original CEC. It was observed a decrease in the total pore volume and the BET surface for every sample. The surface hydrophobicity of the samples with post-pillaring adsorption was higher than in those with co-adsorption. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the incorporation of surfactant modifies the surface and textural properties of the material in different extent in accordance with the incorporation stage and the amount of surfactant used.