Abstract
The thermal stability and acidic characteristics of Al interlayered montmorillonite were affected by citric acid which was present during its formation. Perturbation to the formation of Al interlayers by citric acid resulted in more gradual loss of their structural water in the 430 °C to 520 °C region at initial citric acid/Al molar ratios of 0.1 and 0.5. The data clearly reveal that, besides hydroxy-Al polymers, hydroxy-Al-citrate complexes adsorbed on the surfaces of montmorillonite very substantially contribute to the total and third buffer range titratable acidity of the clay. Key words: Hydroxy-Al-citrate interlayers, smectite, organic acid, DTA, third buffer range, organic carbon