Decomposition of alkylammonium cations intercalated in vermiculite

Abstract

The phenomenon of alkylammonium decomposition on montmorillonite surfaces has been studied by several researchers. In 1964, Calvet et al. showed that it was possible to transform alkylammonium cations adsorbed on montmorillonite surface temperatures considerably below the theoretical decomposition temperatures of amines or their chlorhydrates. Above 100ºC, in presence of oxygen, the cations descompose into NH4+ (which remains on the clay), organic residues and hydrocarbons. The observations were interpreted as the result of catalytic break of C-N bond. The catalytic effect was attributed to protons of the water adsorbed the montmorillonite surface.