Influence of modification by N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on physicochemical properties of bentonite Original Research Article

The study was undertaken to establish the effect of bentonite modification with N-2-(aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on the physicochemical properties of the product. The undesirable hydrophilic character of the bentonite surface was inhibited by introduction of functional amino groups of defined chemical affinity to its surface. Elemental analysis proved the chemical nature of the modification. Aminosilane modification of bentonite markedly increased the stability of its dispersion in water and altered its isoelectric point. It also strongly decreased adsorptive properties of the material. The unmodified bentonite, Izol, exhibited an intense monodisperse character but following the modification it contained a few secondary agglomerate structures.