Porous materials obtained by acid treatment processing followed by pillaring of montmorillonite clays

Montmorillonite clay was treated with hydrochloric add and subsequently pillared with aluminum polyoxocations. The add-treated samples were evaluated for the removal of structural elements (Al, Fe and Mg) and for conservation of the lamellar organization. The more severe the treatment, the greater the specific area obtained. Despite the loss of structural organization, all samples were pillared, with a displacement of peak (001) to 2 theta lower angles. The pillaring of all acid-treated samples promoted an increase in the specific area of these materials. Pillared samples previously treated at 50 degrees C with HCl concentrations of 2 and 4 mol L-1 underwent an increase in their specific areas of approximately 45%. Pillared samples treated with 4 mol L-1 of HCl at 80 degrees C underwent the lowest percent increase in surface area, approximately 10%, compared to the untreated samples. All samples possessed greater uniformity in pore size. Acid treatment prior to pillaring promoted an increase in the number of acid sites of moderate strength compared to pillared natural clay. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.