ACTIVE COMPONENTS IN CLAY CONDENSATES AND EXTRACTS AS POTENTIAL GEOCATALYSTS

Conversion of tertiary butylacetate to isobutylene and acetic acid and cracking of n-octane were used as model reactions to monitor the cata lytic activity of a condensate and aqueous extract derived from a samp le of montmorillonite. The condensate was obtained by condensing the v apor phase evolved on heating the clay and the extract was derived fro m the clay by prolonged water extraction. Both condensate and extract were colloidal systems, which were separated into solid and liquid fra ctions by distillation. Reactions carried out in a dynamic system esta blished that the solid components acted as true acid catalysts, wherea s the liquid fractions were inactive under the experimental conditions adopted. The catalytic activity per weight of the condensate exceeded that of either the parent clay or the extract. The present results co nfirm that colloidal size catalysts of high activity can be generated from clays. Such materials, mobilized and transported alone or with fo rmation fluids, may act as catalysts in places removed in space and ti me from their source. This finding refutes objections previously raise d to the operation of bulk clays as catalysts for reactions with parti culate organics and supports the concept that acid catalysts derived f rom clays may participate in organic geochemical reactions in an aqueo us medium.