EPR investigation of NO2 and CO2 − and other radicals in beryl

A number of different impurities are located in the open channels of natural beryl crystals. The rare Maxixe beryl contains an unusual amount of NO₂. The isoelectronic CO₂ ⁻ radical is found in the irradiated Maxixe-type beryl. The NO₂ radicals are distributed in the Be–Al plane of the crystal, with the nitrogen atom close to the oxygens of the beryl cavity wall. These oxygens repel the negative CO₂ ⁻ radical, which is located at the center of the beryl cavity and rotates around its O–O axis, which is parallel to the crystal c-axis. When there is a nearby alkali ion at the center of the beryl channel, it reorients the CO₂ ⁻ radical so that its bisector is parallel to the c-axis and points toward the positive ion. Different signals are analyzed for Li⁺, Na⁺, and another counter-ion, which probably is Cs⁺. The related NO₃ and CO₃ ⁻ radicals are the color centers in the investigated deep blue beryls. The slow decay of the color, which makes these beryls useless as gem stones, is related to the decay of the hydrogen atoms which are present in these crystals. Evidence is given that NO₃ is created in Maxixe beryl by a natural process, while CO₃ ⁻ in Maxixe-type beryl has been created by irradiation. The temperature dependence of the EPR signals of these two radicals was investigated, but a definitive proof that they rotate at the center of the beryl cavity could not be given. EPR signals from some other radicals in beryl have been observed and described.     

Physicochemical Conditions of the Formation of Beryl and Aquamarin in Mufushan Granopegmatite Deposit,Hunan Province,China

The formation of the Mufushan granopegmatite was closely related to the Late Yenshanian multiphase and multistage magmatic activities,More than one generation of beryl and aquamarine occur in different types of pegmatite in the granites.The presence of melt and melt-fluid inclusions strongly indicates a melt-solution character of the pegmatitic magma.Forming temperatures of the different generations of beryl in a Na^ -K^ ,Ca^2 -CO3^2--Cl^--SO4^2- solution ranges from 990℃to 200℃.Aquamarine was formed at 720-180℃.The contents of alkali metals(Na^ K^ )in th ore-formming solution of aquamarine are lower than those in the beryl,but the contents of alkali earths(Ca) and salinity are higher,The granite was generated by remelting of the basement formation(meta-sedimentary rocks of the Lengjiaxi Group)which also served as the source of ore-forming material.Beryllium in the pegmatite was transported mainly in the form of Na[Be(CO3)2],with part of it being complexed with Cl^- and SO4^2-.During the generation and evolution of the pegmatite,equilibrium might have been reached in the solid-melt-fluid or solid-fluid system.The intergranular solutions may have reacted with the early crystallized minerals,resulting in potash-feldsparization,albitization and muscovitization during which the ore-forming elements were mobilized and transported in favour of ore deposition.     

The crystal chemistry of lithium and Fe3+ in synthetic orthopyroxene

Lithian ferrian enstatite with Li₂O = 1.39 wt% and Fe₂O₃ 7.54 wt% was synthesised in the (MgO–Li₂O–FeO–SiO₂–H₂O) system at P = 0.3 GPa, T = 1,000°C, fO₂ = +2 Pbca, and a = 18.2113(7), b = 8.8172(3), c = 5.2050(2) Å, V = 835.79(9) Å³. The composition of the orthopyroxene was determined combining EMP, LA-ICP-MS and single-crystal XRD analysis, yielding the unit formula ^M2(Mg_0.59Fe _0.21 ²⁺ Li_0.20) ^M1(Mg_0.74Fe _0.20 ³⁺ Fe _0.06 ²⁺ ) Si₂O₆. Structure refinements done on crystals obtained from synthesis runs with variable Mg-content show that the orthopyroxene is virtually constant in composition and hence in structure, whereas coexisting clinopyroxenes occurring both as individual grains or thin rims around the orthopyroxene crystals have variable amounts of Li, Fe³⁺ and Mg contents. Structure refinement shows that Li is ordered at the M2 site and Fe³⁺ is ordered at the M1 site of the orthopyroxene, whereas Mg (and Fe²⁺) distributes over both octahedral sites. The main geometrical variations observed for Li-rich samples are actually due to the presence of Fe³⁺, which affects significantly the geometry of the M1 site; changes in the geometry of the M2 site due to the lower coordination of Li are likely to affect both the degree and the kinetics of the non-convergent Fe²⁺-Mg ordering process in octahedral sites.     

Blue, complexly zoned, (Na,Mg,Fe,Li)-rich beryl from quartz-calcite veins in low-grade metamorphosed Fe-deposit Sk��ly near Ryma?ov, Czech Republic

Syn-tectonic quartz-calcite veins containing blue beryl are enclosed in hematite > magnetite-rich portions of the low-grade metamorphosed Fe-deposit Skály near Ryma?ov, Czech Republic. Aggregates of pale to deep blue beryl, up to 2?cm in diameter, are associated with euclase, clinochlore, hematite, albite and dravite. Complexly zoned beryl crystals consist of skeletal aggregates of beryl I randomly distributed within volumetrically dominant beryl II with narrow rims of beryl III. All types of beryl have similar contents of Na (0.32?C0.49 apfu) and Mg (0.31?C0.41 apfu) but variable contents of Fe_tot (0.05?C0.34 apfu) and Al (1.20?C1.62 apfu). The LA-ICP-MS study yielded elevated contents of Li, up 1,314?ppm (0.28?wt.% Li₂O) in beryl I. The quartz-calcite veins represent an unusual type of low-T metamorphic-hydrothermal vein related to Fe-ore deposit characterized by single-stage fracturing and mobilization in a closed system at T~200?C300°C and CO ₃ ^2- as a major complexing agent for the mobility of Be.     

Coordination of water molecules with Na+ cations in a beryl channel as determined by polarized IR spectroscopy

Subtle variations of frequencies in the infrared (IR) absorption spectra of beryl have been predicted based on the coordination between extra-framework cations and water molecules in two orientations (referred to as type I and type II) trapped within the channel. In this study, the polarized IR spectra of hydrated synthetic beryl and natural beryl were measured to clarify the relationships between the frequencies of the absorption bands and the coordination states of type II water. Na⁺ was assumed to be the predominant cation coordinated to type II water in our samples, as determined by chemical analyses. These measurements revealed a clear quantitative linear relationship in absorbance between bands at 3,602 and 1,619 and at 3,589 and 1,631 cm⁻¹. On the basis of experimental and theoretical studies, we assigned these pairs of bands to the ν₁ and ν₂ modes of doubly coordinated type II H₂O and to singly coordinated type II H₂O, respectively. These assignments were supported by IR measurements of annealed natural beryl. We also conducted dehydration studies of natural beryl, in which two observed dehydration peaks, at 600 and 750°C, suggested the dehydration of type I and type II water, respectively.     

Lithium in NaBe-cordierites from El Peñón,Sierra de Córdoba,Argentina

NaBe-cordierites (Fe/(Fe+Mn+Mg)=0.49–0.57) with BeO contents up to 1.16 weight % and additional Li₂O contents up to 0.21 wt.% occur in cordierite-apatite-uraninite-muscovite-biotite-chlorite-feldspar-quartz nodules within pegmatites penetrating gneissic roof pendants of a lower Palaeozoic granite batholith. Occasional small crystals of beryl are interpreted to coexist stably with unaltered cordierite. Be and Li are incorporated in cordieriteaccording to the substitutions Na^[Channel] + Be^[4] Al^[4] and Na^[Ch]+Li_[6]R^2+[6], respectively. The coexisting phyllosilicates do apparently not contain appreciable amounts of Li. According to powder IR-data, the analyzed water contents of the cordierites are dominantly of type II, and there is also little CO₂. Their distortion indices are rather low (0.121–0.145) and so are their optic angles (2V=50-51_°). Considering all eleven NaBeLi-cordierites known thus far there is a strong positive correlation between Na and (Be+Li) with a slope close to 1.0. However, there is virtually no correlation between Be and Li, their incorporation into cordierite depending on the local geochemical environment. A strong negative correlation exists between the distortion indices of the NaBeLi-cordierites and their Be contents. Li has a disturbing influence on this relationship, and the versus Na correlation is also statistically worse than versus Be.Deceased December 20, 1984     

Thermally induced cation migration in Na and Li montmorillonite

In order to determine whether Li⁺ cations penetrate into the octahedral layers of montmorillonites upon mild heating (Hofmann-Klemen effect) ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of Na⁺ and Li⁺ exchanged montmorillonite were obtained before and after treatment at 220 ° C. The ⁵⁷Fe nucleus was used as a remote probe to detect electronic perturbations which would occur if a Li cation was to move into the octahedral layer from the interlayer after heating. The ambient Mössbauer spectra showed that a high charge density interlayer cation such as Li⁺ is effective in reducing the phonon energy of ^VIFe²⁺. In addition the EFG at octahedral sites can be significantly modified by interlayer cations as evidenced by the larger quadrupole splitting value measured for the Li⁺-exchanged sample with respect to the Na⁺-sample. Interlayer collapse and migration of exchange cations into the montmorillonite lattice after heating to 220 ° C resulted in the oxidation of the ^VIFe²⁺ and a decrease in site distortion for ^IVFe³⁺. Similar spectral parameters for the Fe³⁺ resonances of both Na⁺ — and Li⁺-heated samples suggested the interlayer cations do not penetrate as far as the octahedral layers. In order to utilize the enhanced sensitivity of ^VIFe²⁺ Δ values to changes in EFG the Fe³⁺ in the heated montmorillonites was reduced to Fe²⁺ with hydrazine. Similar spectral parameters for both the Na⁺ — and Li⁺-exchanged montmorillonite were observed giving further evidence that Li cations do not migrate into vacant octahedral sites.     

绿柱石中铁离子的晶格占位及致色作用

绿柱石族宝石颜色丰富,一直是市场上重要的宝石品种。几十年来,国内外学者对不同颜色绿柱石的致色机理及改色工艺开展了广泛的研究。铁离子作为重要的致色过渡金属离子之一,其价态调控是绿柱石改色工艺的关键,所以铁离子的价态、晶格占位和对应的致色作用也一直是绿柱石研究的焦点。铁离子被认为可能存在于绿柱石中的铝氧八面体Al³⁺格位、硅氧四面体Si⁴⁺格位、铍氧四面体Be²⁺格位、结构通道2a或2b位和晶格间隙6g位等位置,是蓝、绿或黄等颜色绿柱石的主要致色元素。本文通过对绿柱石的晶体结构、铁离子的核外电子排布和晶格占位等方面文献资料的梳理及综合分析,认为Fe²⁺和Fe³⁺分别对蓝色和黄色绿柱石的呈色起着主导作用。当Fe²⁺和Fe³⁺处于晶格中不同位置时致色作用的具体差异,仍有待于进一步研究。     

Genesis of the Xuebaoding W–Sn–Be Crystal Deposits in Southwest China: Evidence from Fluid Inclusions,Stable Isotopes and Ore Elements

The Xuebaoding crystal deposit, located in northern Longmenshan, Sichuan Province, China, is well known for producing coarse‐grained crystals of scheelite, beryl, cassiterite, fluorite and other minerals. The orebody occurs between the Pankou and Pukouling granites, and a typical ore vein is divided into three parts: muscovite and beryl within granite (Part I); beryl, cassiterite and muscovite in the host transition from granite to marble (Part II); and the main mineralization part, an assemblage of beryl, cassiterite, scheelite, fluorite, apatite and needle‐like tourmaline within marble (Part III). No evidence of crosscutting or overlapping of these ore veins by others suggests that the orebody was formed by single fluid activity. The contents of Be, W, Sn, Li, Cs, Rb, B, and F in the Pankou and Pukouling granites are similar to those of the granites that host Nanling W–Sn deposits. The calculated isotopic compositions of beryl, scheelite and cassiterite (δD, ?69.3‰ to ?107.2‰ and δ¹⁸O_H2O, 8.2‰ to 15.0‰) indicate that the ore‐forming fluids were mainly composed of magmatic water with minor meteoric water and CO₂ derived from decarbonation of marble. Primary fluid inclusions are CO₂? CH₄+ H₂O ± CO₂ (vapor), with or without clathrates and halites. We estimate the fluid trapping condition at T = 220 to 360°C and P > 0.9 kbar. Fluid inclusions are rich in H₂O, F^‐ and Cl^‐. Evidence for fluid‐phase immiscibility during mineralization includes variable L/V ratios in the inclusions and inclusions containing different phase proportions. Fluid immiscibility may have been induced by the pressure released by extension joints, thereby facilitating the mineralization found in Part III. Based on the geochemical data, geological occurrence, and fluid inclusion studies, we hypothesize that the coarse‐grained crystals were formed by: (i) the high content of ore elements and volatile elements such as F in ore‐forming fluids; (ii) occurrence of fluid immiscibility and Ca‐bearing minerals after wall rock transition from granite to marble making the ore elements deposit completely; (iii) pure host marble as host rock without impure elements such as Fe; and (iv) sufficient space in ore veins to allow growth.     

Phase Chemistry Study of the Zabuye Salt Lake Brine: Isothermal Evaporation at 15°C and 25°C

Zabuye Salt Lake in Tibet, China is a carbonate-type salt lake, which has some unique characteristics that make it different from other types of salt lakes. The lake is at the latter period in its evolution and contains liquid and solid resources. Its brine is rich in Li, B, K and other useful minor elements that are of great economic value. We studied the concentration behavior of these elements and the crystallization paths of salts during isothermal evaporation of brine at 15°C and 25°C. The crystallization sequence of the primary salts from the brine at 25°C is halite (NaCl) → aphthitalite (3K2SO4·Na2SO4) → zabuyelite (Li2CO3)→ trona (Na2CO3·NaHCO3·2H2O) → thermonatrite (Na2CO3·H2O) → sylvite (KCl), while the sequence is halite (NaCl) → sylvite (KCl) → trona (Na2CO3·NaHCO3·2H2O) → zabuyelite (Li2CO3) → thermonatrite (Na2CO3·H2O) → aphthitalite (3K2SO4·Na2SO4) at 15°C. They are in accordance with the metastable phase diagram of the Na+, K+-Cl?, CO32?, SO42?-H2O quinary system at 25°C, except for Na2CO3·7H2O which is replaced by trona and thermonatrite. In the 25°C experiment, zabuyelite (Li2CO3) was precipitated in the early stage because Li2CO3 is supersaturated in the brine at 25°C, in contrast with that at 15°C, it precipitated in the later stage. Potash was precipitated in the middle and late stages in both experiments, while boron was concentrated in the early and middle stages and precipitated in the late stage.     

四川平武雪宝顶绿柱石的振动光谱

自然界中绿柱石晶体多为柱状,具板状晶形的绿柱石非常少见。对产 于四川雪宝顶 云英岩晶洞中的无色透明板状绿柱石及产于雪宝顶蒲口坡石英脉中的绿柱石进行了红外和拉 曼光谱分析,并与产于阿尔泰三号伟晶岩脉中的柱状绿柱石进行了比较。雪宝顶两个绿柱 石的结构通道中的水以II型水为主,而阿尔泰绿柱石结构通道中的水以I型水为主。雪宝顶 绿柱石中Li对Be的替换也对它的红外及拉曼光谱造成了影响。     

Structure and dynamics of water on Li-, Na-, K-, Cs-, H3O-exchanged muscovite surfaces: A molecular dynamics study

The distribution and dynamics of water molecules and monovalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, and H₃O⁺) on muscovite surfaces were investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The direct comparison of calculated X-ray reflectivity profiles and electron density profiles with experiments revealed the precise structure at the aqueous monovalent electrolyte solutions/muscovite interface. To explain the experimentally observed electron density profiles for the CsCl solution-muscovite interface, the co-adsorption of Cs⁺ and Cl⁻ ion pairs would be necessary. Two types of inner-sphere complexes and one type of outer-sphere complex were observed for hydrated Li⁺ ions near the muscovite surface. For Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, and H₃O⁺ ions, the inner-sphere complexes were stable on the muscovite surface. The density oscillation of water molecules was observed to approximately 1.5 nm from the muscovite surface. The number of peaks and the locations for the density of water oxygen atoms were almost similar among the water molecules coordinated to Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and H₃O⁺ ions adsorbed on the muscovite surfaces. The water molecules around Cs⁺ ions that were adsorbed to muscovite surfaces seemed to avoid coordinating with Cs⁺ ions on the surface, and the density of water oxygen near the muscovite surface decreased relative to that in a bulk state. There was no significant difference in self-diffusion, viscosity, retention time, and reorientation time of water molecules among different cations adsorbed to muscovite surfaces. These translational and rotational motions of water molecules located at less than 1 nm from the muscovite surfaces were slower than those in a bulk state. A significant difference was observed for the exchange times of water molecules around monovalent cations. The exchange time of water molecules was long around Li⁺ ions and decreased with an increase in the ionic radius.     

板状绿柱石晶体的结构测定

自然界中绿柱石晶体多为柱状,具板状晶形的绿柱石非常少见。本文对产于四川雪宝顶云英岩晶洞中的无色透明板状绿柱石进行了精确的结构分析,并与产于阿尔泰山号伟晶岩脉中的柱状绿柱石进行了比较。与阿尔泰柱状绿柱石相比,雪面板状绿石富Ｌi、Ｎａ,ｃ／ａ值较高,为１．００１,属钠－锂绿柱石或“四面体”绿柱石。本文还对这种特殊形貌柱石的形成机制进行了初步讨论,成矿流体中Ｌi的浓度以及Ｓi的化学形态可能是影响柱石忻驳闹     

The use of geochemical indicator elements in the exploration for hot water sources within geothermal fields

Soils, rocks, altered rocks, hot and cold waters, and hot spring precipitates were sampled within and on the outskirts of geothermal fields in China. The contents of thirty trace elements in soils and rocks show that Hg, As, Sb, Bi, Li, Rb, Cs, Au, Ag, B, W, Sn, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni and Co can serve as direct and indirect indicators for geothermal field exploration. Large amounts of data indicate that Hg, As and Sb are the best indicators of hot water sources. Altered rocks contain higher Hg, As, Sb, Bi and Be than unaltered rocks. Based on their abundances in hot waters, it is suggested that the following elements may be used as hydrochemical indicators of high-temperature hot-water geothermal systems: K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO²⁻₄, HCO⁻₃, F⁻, Cl⁻, SiO₂, HBO₂, CO₂, pH, total dissolved solids and hydrochemical types, as well as Hg, As, Sb, Be, Li, Rb and Cs. Modern precipitates associated with hot springs have high contents of Ba, Be, Fe, Ti, Hg, As, Sb and Bi. Using these geochemical data, the authors have had much success in locating hot water drill sites within geothermal fields. Case histories are described for five geothermal areas.     

Geochemistry and quality of groundwater of Gummanampadu sub-basin, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Groundwater survey has been carried out in the area of Gummanampadu sub-basin located in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India for assessing the factors that are responsible for changing of groundwater chemistry and consequent deterioration of groundwater quality, where the groundwater is a prime source for drinking and irrigation due to non-availability of surface water in time. The area is underlain by the Archaean Gneissic Complex, over which the Proterozoic Cumbhum rocks occur. The results of the plotting of Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ versus HCO₃ ^? + CO₃ ^2?, Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ versus total cations, Na⁺ + K⁺ versus total cations, Cl^? + SO₄ ^2? versus Na⁺ + K⁺, Na⁺ versus Cl^?, Na⁺ versus HCO₃ ^? + CO₃ ^2?, Na⁺ versus Ca²⁺ and Na⁺: Cl^? versus EC indicate that the rock–water interaction under alkaline condition is the main mechanism in activating mineral dissociation and dissolution, causing the release of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃ ^?, CO₃ ^2?, SO₄ ^2? and F^? ions into the groundwater. The ionic relations also suggest that the higher concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^? ions are the results of ion exchange and evaporation. The influences of anthropogenic sources are the other cause for increasing of Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl^?, SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? ions. Further, the excess alkaline condition in water accelerates more effective dissolution of F^?-bearing minerals. Moreover, the chemical data plotted in the Piper’s, Gibbs’s and Langelier–Ludwig’s diagrams, computed for the chloro-alkaline and saturation indices, and analyzed in the principal component analysis, support the above hypothesis. The groundwater quality is, thus, characterized by Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺: HCO₃ ^? + CO₃ ^2? > Cl^? > SO₄ ^2? > NO₃ ^? > F^? facies. On the other hand, majority of groundwater samples are not suitable for drinking with reference to the concentrations of TDS, TH, Mg²⁺ and F^?, while those are not good for irrigation with respect to USSL’s and Wilcox’s diagrams, residual sodium carbonate, and magnesium hazard, but they are safe for irrigation with respect to permeability index. Thus, the study recommends suitable management measures to improve health conditions as well as to increase agricultural output.     

Crystal structure of K-substituted gonnardite: separation of local water–cation assemblages

K-substituted gonnardite, K_2.18Na_0.04Ca_0.02[Al_2.26Si_2.74O₁₀]·2.2H₂O, was studied by X-ray powder diffraction method. The structure was refined with the Rietveld technique in the tetragonal space group $I\overline{4} 2d$ with a = 13.65409(16), c = 6.56928(11) Å, V = 1224.74(2) ų, Z = 4. Most of K⁺ cations (1.94 apfu) statistically occupy three nearest positions to be considered as the split one. “Excess” cations are located in the position non-typical for K⁺. Statistics in the cation distribution is defined by the occupation of the additional position. Based on a crystal chemical positional model (C₂R₂A₂) [T₅O₁₀], the separation of the local water–cation assemblages from an average statistical pattern has been suggested.     

Evaluation of Jordanian zeolite tuff as a controlled slow-release fertilizer for NH4 +

 The exchange and release properties of the natural phillipsite tuff from the Aritain area in Jordan were evaluated by studying the exchange properties of this natural zeolite in the NH₄ ⁺–Na⁺ system. Exchange isotherms at 18, 35, and 50  °C showed that phillipsite exchanged NH₄ ⁺ preferably over Na⁺ at all temperatures. However, the selectivity coefficient for NH₄ ⁺ decreased with decreasing temperature. The release of NH₄ ⁺ from phillipsite saturated with ammonium sulfate took place in two stages characterized by different SO₄ ^2– : NH₄ ⁺ ratios. Aritain phillipsite from NE Jordan could be processed and used as NH₄ ⁺ slow-release fertilizers. The use of NH₄ ⁺-phillipsite tuff offers an option to the widely used soluble NH₄-fertilizers in agciculture to avoid environmental problems associated with nitrogen contamination of surface water and groundwater. Received: 19 December 1996 · Accepted: 13 May 1997     

Ab initio Hartree–Fock study and charge density analysis of beryl (Al4Be6Si12O36)

 An ab initio Hartree–Fock calculation on beryl structure has been performed and the wave function has been used for an analysis of the electron density. The equilibrium geometry, determined by minimizing the energy with respect to cell parameters and fractional coordinates, is in good agreement with structural experimental measurements; small differences in length between the various Si–O bonds of the structure are well reproduced by the calculation. The two non-equivalent oxygen atoms (O1 and O2) of beryl show different electron distributions. In particular, the valence shell charge concentration (VSCC) of O1 (the bridge between two Si ions) has a torus-like shape, showing a bulge on the external side of the Si–O–Si angle and a thinning on the internal side of it; by contrast O2 has two lone pairs which are approximately located on the line for O2, normal to the plane passing, on average, through the atoms O2, Si, Be and Al. The electron density of each oxygen is strongly polarized toward the Si ions and much less polarized towards the other cations. Such features of the VSCC of the oxygens can be recast in terms of the valence bond theory, to explain the observed differences in bond lengths. By calculating the potential inside the channels of the beryl structure, predictions could be made about the positions occupied by alkali cations, which are often found in natural minerals belonging to the beryl group: results agree in general with experimental findings, but foresee a shift of such cations off the central positions located on the six fold symmetry axis. Additionally, calculations of position and orientation of H₂O inside the channel, in the alkali-free beryl, locate the molecule close to the basal plane, with the H⋯H axis parallel to [001] or oriented at 40^∘ from it. Received: 12 December 2001 / Accepted: 6 April 2002     

Studies on the solid acidity of heated and cation-exchanged montmorillonite using n-butylamine titration in non-aqueous system and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT) spectroscopy

The effects of heating and cation exchange on the solid acidity of montmorillonite were investigated using n-butylamine titration in non-aqueous system and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The number of total, Brønsted, and Lewis acid sites showed the same modulation tendency with increasing heating temperature, reaching a maximum at 120 °C and subsequently decreasing until it reaches a minimum at 600 °C. The Lewis acid sites result from unsaturated Al³⁺ cations, and their number increased with the heating temperature due to the dehydration and dehydroxylation of montmorillonite. The generation and evolution of Brønsted acidity were mainly related to interlayer-polarized water molecules. Water adsorbed on the unsaturated Al³⁺ ions also acted as a Brønsted acid. The acid strength of the Brønsted acid sites was dependent on the polarization ability of the exchangeable cation, the amount of interlayer water, and the degree of dissociation of the interlayer water coordinated to exchangeable cations. All cation-exchanged montmorillonites exhibited different numbers of acid sites and various distributions of acid strength. Brønsted acidity was predominant in Al³⁺-exchanged montmorillonite, whereas the Na⁺- and K⁺-exchanged montmorillonites showed predominantly Lewis acidity. Moreover, Mg²⁺- and Li⁺-exchanged montmorillonites exhibited approximately equal numbers of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. The Brønsted acidity of cation-exchanged montmorillonite was positively correlated with the charge-to-radius ratios of the cations, whereas the Lewis acidity was highly dependent on the electronegativity of the cations. The acid strengths of Al³⁺- and Mg²⁺-exchanged montmorillonites were remarkably higher than those of monovalent cation-exchanged montmorillonites, showing the highest acid strength (H ₀ ≤ ?3.0). Li⁺- and Na⁺-exchanged montmorillonites exhibited an acid strength distribution of ?3.0 < H ₀ ≤ 4.8, with the acid strength ranging primarily from 1.5 to 3.3 in Li⁺-exchanged montmorillonite, whereas only weaker-strength acid sites (1.5 < H ₀ ≤ 4.8) were present in K⁺-exchanged montmorillonite. The results of the catalysis experiments indicated that montmorillonite promoted the thermal decomposition of the model organic. The catalytic activity showed a positive correlation with the solid acidity of montmorillonite and was affected by cation exchange, which occurs naturally in geological processes.