The effect of ultrasonic treatment on titanium pillared bentonite synthesis

Abstract

Ultrasonication technique has been used to synthesize Titanium pillared Clay (Ti-PiLC) from bentonite. The effect of ultrasonication time (10, 30, 50 minutes) was investigated and compared with the conventional method to prepare Ti-PiLC. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, temperature-programmed ammonia desorption, and X-ray Fluorescence were used to characterized the produced samples. The results indicated that the surface area of all Ti-PiLC enhanced 4-6 times as compared to the parent Ca bentonite. The surface area, pore volume, acidity, and Ti content of Ti-PiLC increase with increasing the sonication time where sample prepared for 50 min contained 20.86%wt of Ti and displayed surface area of 204.061 m2/g, pore volume of 0.2621 ml/g, and acidity of 0.598 mmol NH3/g. Ultrasonication technique requires much shorter pillarization time to produce samples having large higher surface parameters than the conventional mechanical stirring technique.