Resumen

CAMPOS, Ana María; MORENO, Sonia  y  MOLINA, Rafael. ACIDITY AND HIDROISOMERIZATION OF HEPTANE OVER A COLOMBIAN VERMICULITE MODIFIED WITH ALUMINUM. Rev.Colomb.Quim. [online]. 2005, vol.34, n.1, pp. 79-92. ISSN 0120-2804.

A Colombian vermiculite has been modified by means of a pillaring process. In a first step, seeking to get a reduction of the interlayer charge, an acid treatment followed by calcinations was performed. The extra-framework species were removed using a complexing acid, and later taken it to the homoionic form. Finally a pillaring with aluminum was made. A reduction in the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and an increment in the evaluated acidity were found using ammonium desorption and DRIFT spectroscopy. The structural and textural changes were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen sorption measurements. The catalytic performance evaluated by means of the hidroisomerization of heptane, revealed a superior profile in the modified clay respect to the natural mineral, also preserving its properties at high temperatures.

Palabras llave : vermiculite; pillared clay; acidity; hidroisomerization.