Preparation and Characterization of Titania-Pillared Montmorillonite

Abstract

In this work, a Ti -pillared montmorillonite with high thermal stability has been prepared by using a Na -montmorillonite as the host clay and polyhydroxy-titania ions as the pillaring precursor. The formation of Ti -pillared montmorillonite has been confirmed from the characterizations through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric–differential scanning calorimeter, and specific surface area analyses. In the preparation of Ti -pillared montmorillonite several parameters, such as the type of solvent in which the synthesis is realized, the ratio of polyhydroxy-titania ions and montmorillonite, the intercalation time, the calcining temperature, and calcining time, were tested to understand their effects on the basal spacing. It was shown that this method could produce a Ti -pillared montmorillonite with the basal spacing of 3.74 nm, specific surface area of 409 m2/g, and mean pore size of 2.94 nm, as well as a high thermal stability up to 900°C.

Inorganically modified clay minerals: Preparation, characterization, and arsenic adsorption in contaminated water and soil

“…In the FTIR spectrum of Ti-pillared smectite (Fig. 2), the band at 3642 cm -1 shifted to 3696 cm -1 , and the band due to vibration of water molecules in interlayer shifted to 3397 cm -1 (Zhang et al, 2008). Similarly, in the spectrum of Fe-exchanged smectite (Fig.…”

“…2), the band at 3642 shifted to 3690 cm -1 , and the water molecules band moved to 3394 cm -1 . The shifting of bands from 3696 cm -1 to the region of 3390 cm -1 in both of the modified clay products suggested the H-bond formation (Zhang et al, 2008). The presence of bands around 2419 cm -1 , 2412 cm -1 and 1698 cm -1 in both spectra of the modified clay products proved that their layer silicate structures were preserved.…”

“…The band at 962 cm -1 in the spectrum of Fe-exchanged smectite confirmed the presence of Al-O-Al bonding which was minimized in the case of Ti-pillared smectite. The presence of new bands at 621cm -1 in the spectrum of Ti-pillared smectite and at 634 cm -1 in Fe-exchanged smectite might be due to the formation of Si-O-Ti and Si-O-Fe bonds, respectively (Zhang et al, 2008). In both unmodified and modified kaolinites, the appearance of the bands around 3690 and 3680 cm -1 , which were attributed to the stretching vibration of inner surface hydroxyl groups (Fig.…”