Synthesis of modified vermiculite by interaction with aromatic heterocyclic amines

Vermiculite of general formula [Si6.85Al1.15][Mg4.68Al0.51Fe0.63]O20(OH)4Ca0.128Na0.032K0.094 reacted with heteroaromatic amines α-, β-, and γ-picolines from aqueous solution. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The intercalated nanocompounds maintained the crystallinity and changed the original interlayer distance of 1422 pm to 1474, 1456, and 1474 pm, for the sequence of the guest picoline molecules. Natural and intercalated vermiculite can remove copper at the solid/liquid interface; removal 0.40 mmol g−1 was obtained for the original matrix, and 1.10, 0.92, and 1.33 mmol g−1 for the intercalated forms. These values are near the capacity of cation exchange (CEC) of this clay mineral, which can be possibly used as source of copper removal from aqueous solution.