Spectroscopic, chemical and morphological characterization and superficial properties of a Mexican montmorillonite

Abstract

The characterization by means of spectroscopic techniques of a natural montmorillonite collected at Cuencamé, Durango is described. The composition of the tetrahedral and octahedral layers was analyzed by magic angle spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) for the nuclei of 29Si and 27Al. The superficial properties of the clay were quantified using the technique of adsorption-desorption of nitrogen as well as the Brunahuer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) methods. The results indicate that the analyzed clay is a Na-montmorillonite with a molecular layer of water adsorbed between their laminae, where the Si atoms in the phyllosilicate Q3 structure display different composition of Si-nAl (n = 0, 1 and 2). About 3.3% of the Al atoms in the structure are replacing Si atoms in the layer. The presence of the paramagnetic Fe+3 and Mn +2  ions in the structure was determined by electronic paramagnetic resonance after the analysis of the acidified clay treated with HCl and CF3SO3H. Additionally, the results acquired by atomic absorption, scanning electron microscopy, infrared and gravimetric thermal analysis are discussed.