Heterogeneous Distribution of Interlayer Cations and Iron as a Plausible Explanation of the Non-Exfoliation of Commercial Vermiculites Post Alcohol Treatment and Microwave Irradiation

Two commercial vermiculites from China and Libby were treated with different alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol butanol) at room temperature for up to one month afterwards irradiated microwaves. The exfoliated non-exfoliated particles characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission microscopy, thermal gravimetric analyses infrared spectroscopy explain the inconsistencies in relation potassium distribution exfoliation observed previous investigations. percentages of investigated greatly varied, no indication a relationship between resultant alcohol treatment. crystallinity structural order phases composing are independent success their exfoliation. existence mosaic structure, intra-particle mosaic-like intergrowth mineral phases, pristine could be attributed heterogeneous on nanoscale interlayer cations as iron.