Characterization of kaolinite-cetyltrimethylammonium chloride intercalation complex synthesized through eco-friend kaolinite-urea pre-intercalation complex

Abstract

Because of its suitability for producing kaolinite nanoscrolls, the kaolinitecetyltrimethylammonium chloride intercalation complex is of interest in the research area of kaolinite nanocomposites. Experimental and molecular simulation analyses are used to investigate this intercalation complex, revealing its real structure formed through partially methoxy-modified kaolinite. Cost-efficient homogenization method is applied to synthesize the eco-friend kaolinite-urea pre-intercalation complex, which was found to be favorable to intercalate cetyltrimethylammonium chloride into the interlayer space of kaolinite. The influence of the pre-intercalated urea molecules, the partial modification of kaolinite structure with methoxy groups, and the presence of methanol molecules in the interlayer space of kaolinite on the intercalation of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride is characterized experimentally by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The kaolinite-cetyltrimethylammonium chloride complex is identified at the basal spacing of 3.82 nm with the chemical formula of Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 3.7 (OCH 3 ) 0.3 (CTAC) 1.6 (Me) 1.6 . Our molecular simulations predict methanolcontaining structures between methoxy-functionalized kaolinite layers with diffuse guest molecular arrangements. ________________________________________________________________

Selecting Suitable Functionals and Basis Sets on the Study Structural and Adsorption of Urea-Kaolinite System Using Cluster Method

“…Engineering designs are searching for an inexpensive chemical mineral that can be modified to achieve their target as CRF. Kaolinite is one of the materials that still generate interest in different research fields [1][2][3][4][5]. Kaolinite has been chosen as the nanostructure material to act as CRF due to its ability to reduce nutrient losses, increase nutrient-used efficiency and protect the environment [6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Functional Kaolinite

“…This is relatively easily made in the case of smectites, but not in the case of kaolinite. Similarly to what is usually done for smectites, the intercalation of long chain ammonium salts could provide a promising step towards kaolinite exfoliation ,. Exfoliation could indeed be obtained after proper treatment of the internal surfaces, as it will be described in the next section.…”

Layered Clay Minerals in Cancer Therapy: Recent Progress and Prospects

“…Compared with other minerals, the interlayer spacing and specific surface area of Kaol are smaller, basically without cation exchange capacity, which makes its drug loading and release efficiency unsatisfactory, limiting its application in the field of drug delivery. However, some small‐molecule polar substances, such as dimethyl sulfoxide, [ 82 ] urea, [ 83 ] methylformamide, [ 84 ] etc., are easy to enter the Kaol interlayer. The expanded interlayer spacing provides enough space for the loading of anticancer drugs, which is conductive to the controlled release of the drugs.…”