Interaction of thiabendazole and benzimidazole with montmorillonite

Interlayer adsorption of two fungicides (thiabendazole and benzimidazole) into montmorillonite was investigated at pH 5.3 and 7.0 by bulk (IR and XRD) and surface (XPS and microelectrophoresis measurements) analysis techniques. The increase of the basal spacing indicates the intercalation of the fungicides in planar monolayer arrangement. IR analysis of the adsorbed samples showed an absorption band at 1624 cm− 1 indicative of the cationic status of the adsorbed fungicides. The electrophoresis mobility also indicated the adsorption of thiabendazole and benzimidazole on montmorillonite. XPS spectra of the N1s peak at 401.1 eV allowed identifying the nitrogen protonation and the exchange of the interlayer sodium ions.