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Influence of a cationic surfactant (CTB) on the morphology of swollen nontronite particles studied by x‐ray microscopy
Author(s) -
Niemeyer Jürgen,
Thieme Jürgen
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19971600117
Subject(s) - nontronite , pulmonary surfactant , bilayer , aqueous solution , colloid , chemical engineering , morphology (biology) , materials science , chemistry , crystallography , membrane , mineralogy , clay minerals , organic chemistry , biochemistry , biology , engineering , genetics
Aqueous suspensions of nontronite particles to which hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTB) were added in amounts well below the layer charge were imaged with an x‐ray microscope directly in their aqueous environment. In the surfactant free suspensions the frayed outermost parts of nontronite particles are clearly visible. Images of the CTB containing suspensions show large stack‐like aggregates with edge regions with non separated lamellae and small, thin platelets. This observation could be explained as follows: The surfactant molecules coat the lamellae of the nontronite. The hydrophobic interaction between two such coated adjacent lamellae pulls them together. However, at the frayed outermost parts of the lamellae the surfactant molecules form a bilayer on each side. Electrostatic forces between these layers cause these parts to break off. These small particles may act as carriers for colloid‐bound transport of CTB.