Di-ethyl 2-hexylphosphoric acid (di-2 EHPA) was chemisorbed on kaolinite and smectite in decane solution. The resultant isotherms were of the Langmuir type and made possible the determination of limiting adsorption values of 12 mg/g and 23.8 mg/g on H+-kaolinite and H+-montmorillonite, respectively. The acidic phosphoric group of the di-2 EHPA molecule reacted in the anionic form (RO)2PO2− with the surface cations of the clay structures. Theoretical calculations, based on structural considerations, are in agreement with the experimental data and show that adsorption took place at the rate of one alkylphosphate anion per surface cation if the phyllosilicate was dioctahedral (e.g., montmorillonite and kaolinite). If the phyllosilicate was trioctahedral (e.g., hectorite), adsorption took place at the rate of two di-2 EHPA molecules for three surface cations. Spectroscopic investigations performed with visible, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation confirmed the formation of salts or surface complexes.

Bis-ethyl 2-hexylphosphoric acid (di-2 EHPA) dissolved in decane is chemisorbed on kaolinite and montmorillonite dispersed in an acidic aqueous solution. The adsorption results in the formation of complexes with the surface cations of the clays. The adsorption isotherms are of the Langmuir type and reveal a limiting value of adsorption on H+-kaolinite of 12.2 mg/g, comparable to that measured in the absence of water. For H+-montmorillonite, however, the limiting value in the presence of acid is somewhat less (20.6 mg/g vs. 23.8 mg/g). Di-2 EHPA does not react with the magnesium cations available at the surface. The isotherm is “stepped” and suggests the presence of adsorption sites with distinctly differentiated energies. The sites of di-2 EHPA adsorption can be masked by treating the two clay minerals with polyphosphate anions. Thus, with pyro- and tripolyphosphate anions, di-2 EHPA uptake in acidic medium is very low. Adsorbed di-2 EHPA can be recovered by treating the clays with fluoride, hydroxyl, and dihydrogenphosphate anions. Dihydrogenphosphate anions lead, however, to a state of equilibrium between the organic and inorganic phosphate anions adsorbed.