Preparation and characterization of mixed hydroxy-Fe-Al pillared montmorillonite with large basal spacing

Article type: Research Article

Authors: ZENG, Xiu-qiong | LIU, Wei-ping

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China | Institute of Environmental Science,Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: maozh@hzcnc.com

Abstract: Mixed hydroxy-Al-Fe pillared montmorillonites with large basal spacing were successfully prepared through cation-exchanging of Na^+ – montmorillonite with mixed hydroxy-Al and hydroxy-Fe pillaring solutions made from hydrolysis of corresponding metal salts, followed by calcination to convert hydroxy-Al and hydroxy-Fe into intercalated polycations. According to XRD analysis, the basal spacing d(001) of pillared products dramatically enlarged from 12.7 å in the Na-montmorillonite to 81 å in the hydroxy-Fe-montmorillonite and 77.5 å in mixed hydroxy-Al-Fe-montmorillonite. The N_2 BET surface areas of the pillared montmorillonites also greatly increased to more than 200 mm^2/g as compared to about 27 m^2/g for the Na-montmorillonite. IR analysis of hydroxy-Fe, and mixed hydroxy-Al-Fe pillared montmorillonites revealed a new absorption vibration at 1384 cm^{-1} wavelength. XRF elemental analysis data also showed a high content of Fe_2O_3 in the hydroxy-Fe pillared montmorillonite.

Keywords: hydroxy-Al, hydroxy-Fe, montmorillonite, preparation, characterization

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 117-119, 2004