1Department of Chemistry, Bangalore Institute of Technology, K.R. Road, Bangalore 560 004, India.
2Department of Chemistry, Bangalore University, Central College Campus, Bangalore 560 001, India.
Bhuj smectite clay sample was found to exchange tetra-alkylammonium ions having long alkyl chain. The smectite clay sample was exchanged with hexaecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA), tetradecyltrim-ethylammnoium (TDTMA) and dodecyltrimethylammnoium (DDTMA) ions to get HDTMA-, TDTMA- and DDTMA-smectite. These modified smectite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, surface area, thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopic technique. The tetra-alkylammonium modified clay thus obtained was subjected to thermal treatment at about 350°C. The major project obtained on condensation was to be olefin with the same number of carbon atoms as in the long chain of the parent tetra-alkylammonium ion.
