INVESTIGATIONS OF GLUCOSE-, SUCROSE-, AND CARBON-MONTMORILLONITE

Na-montmorillonite (SWY-2) was exchanged with solutions of glucose and sucrose resulting in organic intercalates. X-ray diffraction investigation at 50 % relative humidity (RH) at 22.5º C indicate d-spacings of (00l) peaks of the carbohydrate-montmorillonites are very different than that of Na-montmorrillonite (d(001) = 12.2 Å) which was analyzed under the same RH conditions. Both intercalates show double low angle peaks which are more sharp than the Na-montmorillonite. Glucose-montmorillonite has a weak shoulder-peak at 17.2 Å and a sharper more intense peak at 14.5 Å whereas the sucrose-montmorillonite has low angle peaks of approximately equal in intensity with larger d-spacings of 16.7Å and 18.1 Å. Upon heating in air to 375º C for 45 minutes, gels turn color from light tan-green to jet black and this process is interpreted as a carbonization reaction that produces a carbon-intercalate. Powder X-ray diffraction investigation of carbon-intercalates derived from both glucose- and sucrose- exchanged montmorillonite at a RH of 50%, at 22.5º C show low intensity patterns but have distinct d(001)=12.7Å peaks. Transmission electron microscopy investigation also indicates d(001)=12.7Å. The carbon-montmorillonite represents a new class of intercalates and may be a phase that is not yet recognized in low grade metamorphic rocks. Gels may have commercial applications in water quality and the carbon-montmorillonite may have properties useful in polymer enhancement.