Electro-Chemical Behaviour of Some Interstratified Clay Minerals

Abstract

9 pH-neutralisation curves of some natural clay samples containing inters/ratified illite-montmorillonite minerals have been studied. It has been observed that their titration curves are d(fferent from those of kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite and their natural mixtures. Unlike these, the titration curves of samples containing interstratified minerals show four inflections at pH ranges 5-6, 7-7.5, 8-9.5 and 10-10.5. The role of associated clay and non-clayey materials on the nature of their titration curves has been discussed. It has been observed that their influence is not very markedly manifested on these curves and hence the titration characteristics of these samples have been ascribed as due to inters/ratified illite-montmorillonite minerals mainly. Reasons for the polybasic character of their curves have been discussed in relation to the surface area of the samples and their crystal structure.