Characterization of kaolinite-ammonium acetate complexes prepared by one-step homogenization method

Molecular Dynamic (MD) Simulations of Organic Modified Montmorillonite

This study complements the knowledge about organobentonites, which are intended to be new binders in foundry technology. In the developed materials, acrylic polymers act as mineral modifying compounds. Modification of montmorillonite in bentonite was carried out in order to obtain a composite containing a polymer as a lustrous carbon precursor. The polymer undergoes thermal degradation during the casting process, which results in the formation of this specific carbon form, ensuring the appropriate quality of the casting surface without negative environmental impact. The present paper reports the results of computational simulation studies (LAMMPS software) aimed at broadening the knowledge of interactions of organic molecules in the form of acrylic acid and acrylate anions (from sodium acrylate) near the montmorillonite surface, which is a simplified model of bentonite/acrylic polymer systems. It has been proven that the –COOH group promotes the adsorption of acrylic acid (AA) to the mineral surface, while acrylate ions tend to be unpredictably scattered, which may be related to the electrostatic repulsion between anions and negatively charged clay surfaces. The simulation results are consistent with the results of structural tests carried out for actual organobentonites. It has been proven that the polymer mainly adsorbs on the mineral surface, although it also partially intercalates into the interlayer spaces of the montmorillonite. This comprehensive research approach is innovative in the engineering of foundry materials. Computer simulation methods have not been used in the production of new binding materials in molding sand technology so far.

Combining Experimental Isotherms, Minimalistic Simulations, and a Model to Understand and Predict Chemical Adsorption onto Montmorillonite Clays

An attractive approach to minimize human and animal exposures to toxic environmental contaminants is the use of safe and effective sorbent materials to sequester them. Montmorillonite clays have been shown to tightly bind diverse toxic chemicals. Due to their promise as sorbents to mitigate chemical exposures, it is important to understand their function and rapidly screen and predict optimal clay-chemical combinations for further testing. We derived adsorption free-energy values for a structurally and physicochemically diverse set of toxic chemicals using experimental adsorption isotherms performed in the current and previous studies. We studied the diverse set of chemicals using minimalistic MD simulations and showed that their interaction energies with calcium montmorillonite clays calculated using simulation snapshots in combination with their net charge and their corresponding solvent's dielectric constant can be used as inputs to a minimalistic model to predict adsorption free energies in agreement with experiments. Additionally, experiments and computations were used to reveal structural and physicochemical properties associated with chemicals that can be adsorbed to calcium montmorillonite clay. These properties include positively charged groups, phosphine groups, halide-rich moieties, hydrogen bond donor/acceptors, and large, rigid structures. The combined experimental and computational approaches used in this study highlight the importance and potential applicability of analogous methods to study and design novel advanced sorbent systems in the future, broadening their applicability for environmental contaminants.

Insights into the interactions of bisphenol and phthalate compounds with unamended and carnitine-amended montmorillonite clays

Montmorillonite clays could be promising sorbents to mitigate toxic compound exposures. Bisphenols A (BPA) and S (BPS) as well as phthalates, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), are ubiquitous environmental contaminants linked to adverse health effects. Here, we combined computational and experimental methods to investigate the ability of montmorillonite clays to sorb these compounds. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted that parent, unamended, clay has higher binding propensity for BPA and BPS than for DBP and DEHP; carnitine-amended clay improved BPA and BPS binding, through carnitine simultaneously anchoring to the clay through its quaternary ammonium cation and forming hydrogen bonds with BPA and BPS. Experimental isothermal analysis confirmed that carnitine-amended clay has enhanced BPA binding capacity, affinity and enthalpy. Our studies demonstrate how computational and experimental methods, combined, can characterize clay binding and sorption of toxic compounds, paving the way for future investigation of clays to reduce BPA and BPS exposure.

Montmorillonites Can Tightly Bind Glyphosate and Paraquat Reducing Toxin Exposures and Toxicity

Among the numerous contaminants of soil, glyphosate and paraquat are two of the most widely used herbicides that are commonly detected in the environment. Soil and sediment contaminated with glyphosate, paraquat, and other environmental toxins can be mobilized and redistributed to lawns, vegetable gardens, parks, and water supplies in vulnerable communities at the site of disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. Glyphosate and paraquat bind strongly to soils containing clays, making their bioavailability (bioaccessibility) from these types of soil very low. Because of their affinity for clay-based soils, it is possible that montmorillonite clays could be administered as a therapeutic agent in the diet of animals and humans to decrease short-term exposure and toxicity. In this study, we investigated the sorption mechanisms of glyphosate and paraquat onto active surfaces of calcium montmorillonite (CM) and sodium montmorillonite (SM) clays and derived binding parameters, including capacity, affinity, and enthalpy. Additionally, we used these parameters to predict the reduction in bioavailability under different pH and temperature conditions and to estimate the theoretical dose of clay that could protect against severe paraquat toxicity and lethality. Computational modeling and simulation studies depicted toxin sorption mechanisms at different pH values. Additionally, a toxin-sensitive living organism (Hydra vulgaris) was used to confirm the safety of the clay and its ability to protect against toxicity from glyphosate and paraquat. The high efficacy of CM and SM shown in this study supports the natural binding activity of glyphosate and paraquat to clay-based soils. Following disasters and medical emergencies, montmorillonite clays could be administered by capsules and tablets, or added to food and flavored water, to reduce toxin bioavailability and human and animal exposures.

Interfacial Structure and Interaction of Kaolinite Intercalated with N-methylformamide Insight from Molecular Dynamics Modeling

The evolution of basal spacing and interfacial structure of kaolinite-N-methylformamide (NMF) complexes during the intercalation process were difficult to obtain using experimental methods. In present study, a series of kaolinite-NMF complex models with various numbers of NMF molecules in the interlayer space were constructed to mimic the progressive stage of the intercalation process of kaolinite intercalated by NMF. The MD simulations were performed on these models to explore the evolution of basal spacing and interfacial structure of kaolinite-NMF complexes during the intercalation process. It was found that the basal spacing of complex was stabilized at 11 Å during the intercalation process, where the molecular plane of NMF oriented at small angles with respect to the interlayer surface with the C=O groups and N-H bonds pointing toward the octahedral and tetrahedral surfaces, respectively, due to the hydrogen bonding interactions. The basal spacing can be enlarged to larger values with the prerequisite of overcoming the energy barrier. With the increase of basal spacing during the intercalation process, the NMF were rearranged as a pillar with the molecular planes orienting at higher angles with respect to the interlayer surface, and then developed to disordered bilayer structure. For the interfacial interaction of kaolinite-NMF complex, both the octahedral surface and tetrahedral surface showed binding affinity to the NMF, which is the driving force for the intercalation of NMF in kaolinite. The octahedral surface displays stronger binding affinity to the NMF in terms of the H-bonds and energetics compared to the tetrahedral surface partially due to the highly active surface hydroxyl groups. The present study provides insight into the basal spacing evolution, and interfacial structure and interaction of kaolinite-NMF complexes, which can enhance the understanding of kaolinite intercalated by small molecules.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Basal Spacing, Energetics, and Structure Evolution of a Kaolinite-Formamide Intercalation Complex and Their Interfacial Interaction

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on kaolinite-formamide complex models with various numbers of formamide molecules loaded in the kaolinite interlayer to explore the basal spacing, energetics, and structure evolution of the kaolinite-formamide complex during the intercalation process. Additionally, the interfacial interactions of formamide with kaolinite interlayer surfaces were calculated. The calculation revealed that the basal spacing of kaolinite was enlarged to 9.6 Å at the beginning of intercalation. Formamide was arranged as a monolayer structure in the kaolinite interlayer with the molecular plane oriented at small angles with respect to the interlayer surface. With continuous intercalation, the basal spacing readily reached a stable stage at 10.6 Å, where formamide rearranged its structure by rotating the molecule plane along the C-N bond that was parallel to the interlayer surface, which resulted in the molecular plane orienting at higher angles with respect to the interlayer surface. During this process, the C═O groups oriented toward the hydroxyl groups on the interlayer octahedral surface, and one of N-H bonds progressively pointed toward the basal oxygens on the opposing interlayer tetrahedral surface. Continuous intercalation can enlarge the basal spacing to more than 14 Å with the prerequisite of overcoming the energy barrier, and then formamide evolved to a disordered bilayer structure in the kaolinite interlayer. The affinity of kaolinite interlayer surfaces for formamide motivated the intercalation process. The octahedral surface displayed a relatively larger affinity toward formamide compared to the tetrahedral surface partially due to the presence of hydroxyl groups that are more active in the intermolecular interactions with formamide.