The modification of montmorillonite with metallic species affects directly its crystalline structure, texture, porosity, and surface. The interaction of the metallic molecules with the clay matrix, derived from the modification pathway and the characteristics of the adsorbate, modifies the physicochemical properties of montmorillonite, enabling the creation of materials with varied characteristics to be used both as catalysts and adsorbents. Small amounts of metallic species can confer various structural and physicochemical characteristics on the same montmorillonite matrix, depending on the metal incorporated. The objective of the present study was to create an acid-base catalyst based on montmorillonite K10 (K10 Mnt), modified with Ti, Ce, and Ni, for the catalytic esterification of acetic acid and penta-1-ol. K10-Mnt was modified using particles of Ti and of Ti modified with Ce and Ni. The effect of the inclusion of Ti and modified Ti species on the transformation of the physicochemical properties of the K10 Mnt and their contributions to the catalytic esterification syntheses were investigated. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy system (SEM-EDS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), physisorption of N2 at 77 K (BET and BJH), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTGA). Finally, the original and modified K10 Mnt samples were tested for their catalytic esterification of acetic acid and penta-1-ol in the liquid phase.

The modification of clays including montmorillonites, is a common procedure that gives to the resulting material additional properties compared to the pristine clay. One of these procedures is the modification of the surface/matrix of the clay with inorganic species, to enhance their catalytic and adsorptive properties. In the present study, montmorillonite-clay K10 modified with particles of Ti species and Ti additionally modified with Ce and Ni species, were characterized by X-ray diffraction of powders (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), physisorption of N2 at 77K (BET and BJH), and thermal analysis (TA). Finally, clays were tested in the esterification of acetic acid and penta-1-ol in the liquid-phase. The effect of the inclusion of Ti species and the modified of Ti with Ce and Ni species was discussed in terms of the transformation of the nanostructure of the modified clay, and their contribution to the catalytic esterification performance.