Stability of the compounds obtained by intercalating potassium acetate molecules into kaolinite from coal measures

The intercalation compounds of kaolinite/potassium acetate were prepared by grinding and aging mixtures of potassium acetate and kaolinite from coal measures. The techniques of XRD, ICP-AES, IR, DSC, SEM and particle-size distribution analysis were used to characterize the microstructure and stability of the as-obtained intercalation compounds. The basal spacing increased from 0.72 nm for the raw kaolinite to 1.42 nm for the intercalation compound. The intercalation compounds were very stable in the anhydrous ethanol at room temperature, whereas deintercalation occurred when the as-obtained intercalation compounds were treated with water or heated at 296 °C.