Rapid exfoliation of rectorite in quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan

► Exfoliated quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan/rectorite nanobiocomposite was prepared. ► The exfoliation was performed in only water without any additional plasticizer. ► The silicate monolayers of rectorite were observed in the biopolymer matrix. ► Hydrogen bonds interaction existed in this nanobiocomposite. ► This nanobiocomposite had higher thermal stability than only biopolymer.