Controlling wettability and hydrophobicity of organoclays modified with quaternary ammonium surfactants

The montmorillonite clays were modified with quaternary ammonium salts (QASs) having different alkyl chain lengths and a benzyl substitute group. The modified organoclays were characterized by different analytical techniques. The wettability and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the modified clays was evaluated using water or oil penetration (adsorption) and contact angle measurements. The loading of QASs was in the range of 0.60–0.75 mmol/g per clay, irrespective of the type of QAS used for the modification of the clay. From the analytical investigations, it was elucidated that the modification of clay with QAS affected the structural, textural, and surface properties. Moreover, it should be noted that the modification with QAS having benzyl substitute group resulted in water-non-wettable and superhydrophobic surface, whereas clays modified with QAS without benzyl substitute group became more water-wettable and hydrophilic than the pristine clay. The presence of benzyl groups on the clay prevents water from penetration into the inter-clay or interlayer spacing, which yields the hydrophobic surface. These behaviors can arise from molecular arrangement of QAS on clay but not be attributable to the amount of QASs, and the surface area, size, and zeta potential of particles.