Use of novel quaternary ammonium salts as a modifier for preparing organoclays

Na+- Montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) is a 2:1 layered silicate: a single Na+-MMT platelet is constituted by an aluminum octahedral sheet contained between two silicon tetrahedral sheets. Clay modification is generally performed by ion-exchange reactions of organophilic cations with cationic surfactants The quaternary ammonium salts are cationic surfactants and the most used organic compounds to prepare organoclays. They are synthesized by complete alkylation of ammonia or amines.Cationic surface active agents, including particular quaternary ammonium salts , are important biocides that for many years have been known to be effective antiseptic and disinfectant agents. Quaternary ammonium salts belong to the group of compounds which exhibit high antimicrobial activity. This activity, characterised by minimum inhibitory concentration or the disc diffusion susceptibility test is highly effective especially against gram-positive bacteria and fungi.In this study firstly, For modification of Na+-MMT, different quaternary ammonium salts N,N-dihexyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-N-methylammonium iodide (QAS-1), N,N-dipenthyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)-N-methylammonium iodide (QAS-2) and N,N-di(3-methyl buthyl)-N-(1-phenylethyl)-N-methylammonium iodide (QAS-3) were synthesized by complete alkylation reaction. In the second stage, organo montmorillonites ( OMMT-1, OMMT-2, and OMMT-3) were prepared from QAS-1, QAS-2 and QAS-3 with Na+-MMT. The modified and unmodified materials were characterized qualitatively by FTIR, XRD ve SEM. According to the XRD patterns of the samples, the intercalation of quaternary ammonium salts was successful as the increased basal spacing confirmed.