A Materials Based Laboratory Exercise—Intercalation and Deintercalation of Dimethylsulfoxide and Poly(ethylene glycol) into Minerals

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-9-2006

Publication Title

Chemical Educator

DOI

10.1333/s00897061062a

ISSN

1430-4171

Comments

The intercalation of organic compounds and polymers into common minerals and the chemical analysis of the resulting composite can easily be performed by students in a variety of laboratory courses including materials chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, and instrumental analysis. This exercise introduces students to minerals and their structural framework as well as the utility of these materials to act as effective templates for chemistry. The intercalation of these compounds can serve as models for the preparation of nanocomposite materials where the mineral acts as “host” to the organic substrate. In this experiment, bentonite (BENT) and kaolinite (KAO) were intercalated with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-5000). Analyses were performed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). These analyses are used to verify intercalation and determine the extent of the substrates contained in the minerals. In this example DMSO and PEG-5000 are found to be successfully intercalated into bentonite and kaolinite. Further, information regarding the amount of substrate absorbed into BENT and KAO as a function of mineral mass can be determined as well as the relative energetics associated with the interactions. Presented are inorganic chemistry student results with corresponding statistical analysis.

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