The modification of Na-montmorillonite by salts of fatty acids: An easy intercalation process

The organic modification of Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) clay by a reaction with the sodium salts of octadecanoic acid (SOD) and dodecanoic acid (SDD) was studied for the production of effectively intercalated and organophilic clays. The results of X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis reveal that the interlayer spacing of Na-MMT increased from 1.38 nm to 3.37-1.4-4 nm, 3.56-1.45 nm, 3.61-1.44 nm and 3.56-1.44 nm in the organoclays containing 393 mM SOD, 787 mM of SOD, 540 mM SDD and 1080 mM SOD, respectively.