Preparation and characterization of spermine-exchanged montmorillonite and interaction with the herbicide fluometuron

We studied the interaction between the naturally occurring polycation spermine (SPERM) and Na-exchanged SWy-2 Wyoming montmorillonite (Na-SWy-2 Mt) and between spermine-exchanged montmorillonite (Mt-SPERM) and the herbicide fluometuron. Mt-SPERM with spermine contents ranging between 0 and 1.2 times the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of Na-SWy-2 were studied by XRD, FTIR and TGA analysis. Spermine was intercalated stoichiometrically into Na-SWy-2 up to the CEC of the clay mineral, resulting in basal spacing of 1.29 nm. TGA analysis indicated that intercalation of spermine into Na-SWy-2 increased the thermal stability of the organic cations and affected the dehydroxylation temperature of the clay mineral. FTIR measurements of Mt-SPERM samples showed the involvement of NH and CH groups of spermine in the interaction with the clay mineral. The intensity of the spermine NH and CH deformation vibrations increased linearly with the amount of spermine incorporated into Na-SWy-2 up to an amount close to the CEC of the montmorillonite. Structural modeling suggested that the arrangement of spermine cations formed a horizontal monolayer within the interlayer space of SWy-2 with strong interaction between the NH3+ and NH2+-groups of spermine and the montmorillonite surface oxygen atoms. Mt-SPERM showed pronounced affinity for the herbicide fluometuron.

► Intercalation of spermine polycations into Wyoming montmorillonite.
► Spermine is readily intercalated by montmorillonite up to the cation exchange capacity.
► Spermine forms a strong organo-clay complex with a basal spacing of 1.29 nm.
► Spermine increases the affinity of montmorillonite for the herbicide fluometuron.
► Montmorillonite-spermine shows potential as an adsorbent for phenylurea herbicides.