The intercalation of cetyltrimethylammomum cations into muscovite by a two-step process:: 1.: The ion exchange of the interlayer cations in muscovite with Li+

A new method to prepare alkylammonium ions-intercalated muscovite is reported. It has been obtained in a two-step process: the first step is the inorganic ion exchange. which allows the ion exchange of interlayer cations in muscovite with Li+ in a melting, condition of LiNO3. It waas foound that in the LiNO3 treatment process Most of the interlayer cations were replaced by Li+, and a large amount of water entered the interlayer space of muscovite. Therefore the spacing of muskovite (001) plane d((001)) was enlarged front 19.92 to 24. 16 angstrom, which Could allow for the intercalation of organic cations. SEM shows that the LiN(O)3 treatments have little effect oil the size of muscovite platelets. TEM and FTIR confirm that not only the chemical composition but also the structure of the aluminosilicate layer has not been changed by the LiNO3 treatments. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.