Intercalation of protonated polyoxyalkylene monoamines into a synthetic Li-fluorotaeniolite

A series of intercalates was obtained by adsorption of protonated polyoxyalkylene monoamines (Jeffamines M-600, M-1000 and M-2005) on a synthetic Li-fluorotaeniolite (Li-TN). The amounts of Jeffamines varied in the range of 0.25–10.0 CEC of the Li-TN. The samples obtained were investigated by elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The maximum amounts of the organic cations bound to the Li-TN exchange sites, calculated from the C and N contents, were 23.8–76.2% CEC of Li-TN. The SEM images testified that the surface morphology of the starting mica markedly changed after its treatment with the Jeffamines. The XRD patterns of the organo-TNs washed with water and unwashed indicated that the protonated amines were adsorbed on the TN surface as a result of both cation exchange and non-ionic interactions. The basal spacings of the intercalates were between ~ 13 and ~ 130 Å. The Li-TN was also easily intercalated with the unprotonated Jeffamines in a water–ethanol solution. These results revealed that adsorption of both the cationic and the non-ionic forms of the amines was controlled mainly by oxyalkylene segments of their chains.