Identification of superactive centers in thermally treated formamide-intercalated kaolinite

The thermal behavior of a formamide-intercalated mechanochemically activated (dry-ground) kaolinite was investigated by thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry (TG-MS) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT). After the removal of adsorbed and intercalated formamide, a third type of bonded reagent was identified in the temperature range 230–350 °C decomposing in situ to CO and NH 3. The presence of formamide decomposition products, as well as CO 2 and various carbonates identified by DRIFT spectroscopy, indicates the formation of superactive centers as a result of mechanochemical activation and heat treatment (thermal deintercalation). The structural variance of surface species decreases with the increase of grinding time. The unground mineral contains a small amount of weakly acidic and basic centers. After 3 h of grinding, the number of acidic centers increases significantly, while on further grinding the superactive centers show increased basicity. With the increase of grinding time and treatment temperature the number of bicarbonate- and bidentate-type structures decreases in favor of the carboxylate- and monodentate-type ones.