Interlayer and surface characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose and tetramethylammonium modified bentonite

This study aims to evaluate interlayer and surface characteristics of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and tetramethylammonium (TMA) modified bentonite, named as TCMB, as a potential material in contamination containment systems. The study employed a variety of experimental methods, including zeta-potential, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), along with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Zeta potential results revealed increased electronegativity in TCMB compared to the conventional bentonite. By forming three-dimensional hydrogel networks capable of filling inter clusters pore spaces, CMC effectively maintained the low hydraulic conductivity of TCMB. XRD results confirmed the presence of TMA in the interlayer of montmorillonite. MD simulations and FTIR analyses validated the successful adsorption of CMC and TMA, which can be jointly attributed to hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups in CMC and the surface oxygen of montmorillonite, and electrostatic attraction between TMA and montmorillonite. The comparatively weak bonding between CMC and montmorillonite may facilitate CMC elution in the TCMB exposed to aggressive permeants. Furthermore, the electrical double layer thickness of TCMB and CB was estimated as 31.54 & Aring; and 18.76 & Aring;, respectively. Overall, the CMC and TMA treatments effectively enhance the suitability of bentonite for contamination containment applications.