Synthesis characterization and application of some intercalated clay metal complexes

Abstract

Recent advances in the intercalation and intersalation (accommodation of ion-pair salt into the interlamellar region) reactions of metal complexes or other organic compounds with layered clay minerals particularly montmorillonite (Mnt hereafter) clay have paved the way for the development of new classes of supported (heterogeneous) catalysts, bioactive agents, chemical sensors. slow release materials. adsorbents etc. The versatility of the clay structure is the main reason for ever-growing interest in this area. The results of the present work are embodied in the thesis which consists of four major chapters. First chapter:- It is an introductory one which contains a critical review of the background of clay based materials. its chemistry and applications. Mnt a member of smectite group of clay is a 2:1 phyllosilicate. Such clay posseses exchangeable cations {expressed as Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) i.e milli equivalent / 100gm of the clay} in the interlamellar space. Mnt is unique in the way that they may intercalate suitable metal complexes more than CEC to form double or pseudo-trilayer composites. Intecalated Mnt composite like Pillared Interlayered Clays ( PILC ), metal ion-exchanged clays or metal complex - intercalated clay composites can act as selective catalyst in Fluidized cracking of heavy hydrocarbon, Friedel - Crafts reaction, hydrogenation etc. they can be used as supports for slow release pesticides and medicinal drugs, effective adsorbent for radioactive and toxic industrial wastes, separator for enantiomeric compounds etc. Thus Mnt composites may be tailor made for many industrially important processes. X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis, UV visible and IR spectroscopic analyses, SEM-EDX and Surface area analyses etc are utilized for the characterization of the composites. Chapter 2:- It contains all the experimental details of the work. The clay used were from M/S Neelkanth Chemicals, Jodhpur and Wyoming bentonite. The crude clay contained various impurities like quartz, sand etc. which...