Study of the influence of cationic surfactants on hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of bentonite from the Tagansky deposit

Artiom A. Sokolov; Roman V. Simonov; Sergei A. Sidyakov; Leonid V. Perelomov; Irina V. Shakhkeldyan; Yuri M. Atroshchenko

doi:10.12731/2658-6649-2026-18-2-1454

Artiom A. Sokolov Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9900-3665
Roman V. Simonov Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8337-8147
Sergei A. Sidyakov Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5227-0401
Leonid V. Perelomov Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0507-4968
Irina V. Shakhkeldyan Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4049-6168
Yuri M. Atroshchenko Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7235-8330

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12731/2658-6649-2026-18-2-1454

Keywords: Bentonite, Montmorillonite, Organoclay, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, FTIR spectra, Contact angle, Zeta potential

Abstract

Background. The use of clay minerals for removing organic pollutants from the environment is limited by the highly hydrophilic nature of their surfaces. Effective sorbents for organic toxicants with controlled hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties can be obtained by modifying the clay surface with surfactants.

Purpose – to study the relationship between the amount of cationic surfactant used for modification of natural bentonite from the Tagansky deposit - cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) - and the hydrophilic-hydrophobic characteristics of the forming organoclay surface.

Materials and methods. The studied organoсlay samples were obtained by the ion exchange reaction between solution of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and natural bentonite from the Tagansky deposit, which has a high content of montmorillonite (98.5%). To assess the hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties, the contact angles of wetting with water (DSA 30, Krüss GmbH, Germany) were determined and the zeta potentials (Stabino II, Germany) of organobentonite particles were measured. The interlayer configuration of the intercalated surfactant in smectite clay was studied using FTIR spectroscopy (FSM-2202, Infraspec, Russia).

Results. An increase in the modifier concentration in organoclay leads to decrease in the modulus of negative values of the ζ-potential, and then to recharge of the particles with a tendency of potencial stabilization. In this case, the contact angle reaches a maximum value (>90^o) with complete replacement of cations in bentonite with hydrophobic cations of the surfactant, after which it decreases. Changes in the FTIR spectra of modified samples in the region of valence (high-frequency shift of bands) and deformation (Davydov splitting) vibrations of methylene groups of alkylammonium chains of the modifier confirm the possibility of the existence of various microcrystalline phases of the surfactant on the outer surface and in the interlayer space of bentonite. In addition, in the FTIR spectra of organoclays, the intensity of all bands of OH groups decreases, which indicates a decrease in surface hydration.

Conclusion. Liquid-phase intercalation of cetyltrimethylammonium cations into bentonite from the Tagansky deposit is an effective and simple method for preparing modified clays with controlled hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties for use in environmental protection from organic pollutants.

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Author Biographies

Artiom A. Sokolov, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

Postgraduate Student of the Department of Chemistry

Roman V. Simonov, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

Researcher of the Laboratory of Biogeochemistry at the Scientific Center

Sergei A. Sidyakov, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

Engineer of the Department of Chemistry

Leonid V. Perelomov, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

PhD in Biology, Head of the Laboratory of Biogeochemistry at the Scientific Center

Irina V. Shakhkeldyan, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

Doctor of Chemistry, Professor, Professor of the Department of Chemistry

Yuri M. Atroshchenko, Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University

Doctor of Chemistry, Professor, Director of the Scientific Center

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