Study by X-ray diffraction of pillared interlayered clays obtained of different homoionic Montmorillonites

Basal spacing of Al-pillared montmorillonites was studied in function of the cation on the parent clay by X-ray diffractometry. Several cation-rich montmorillonites were studied, where cation can be Na+, Cs+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, or Ce3+. It was observed that the thermal stability of the pillared clay is function of the exchangeable cation. For pillared clay obtained from Ca-rich montmorillonite the basal spacing increases with loss water by drying it in vacuum dissected. Moreover, the basal spacing decreases with OH- addition when the sample is oriented by ammonium hydroxide. In general, the basal spacing decreases while the temperature of calcination increases. (author)