Changes in the characteristics of acid-treated clay after the inclusion of proteins

The aim of this work is to study the difference in the characteristics of commercial clay after the inclusion of two proteins. Bovine serum albumin and egg white lysozyme were immobilized on the structure of commercial montmorillonite, which was previously treated with a hydrochloric acid solution. Studies were carried out at two different concentrations, fixing the pH to ensure the charge of biomolecules and clay surface. Acid‐treated clay containing proteins was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The powders showed similar thermal behavior after the inclusion of proteins but with variations in the amount of mass loss in each sample. Moreover, changes in the surface characteristics of the final solid were observed, depending on both the concentration and the nature of the incorporated protein. The differences observed in the acid‐treated clay characteristics after the inclusion of each type of protein are discussed. The characterization of materials after the inclusion of protein molecules can be useful to understand the adsorption mechanism of biomolecules on solid surfaces. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.