1 Deintercalation of hydrazine intercalated low defect kaolinite

The deintercalation of a low defect kaolinite intercalated with hydrazine has been followed by X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT) and Raman microscopy over an extended period of time. X-ray diffraction showed the kaolinite was totally intercalated and that more than 120 hours were required for the hydrazine intercalate to be decomposed. The Raman spectra of the hydrazine intercalate showed only a single band at 3620 cm-1 attributed to the inner hydroxyl group. Upon deintercalation additional Raman bands were observed at 3626 and 3613 cm-1. These bands decreased in intensity with further deintercalation. As deintercalation occurs the bands assigned to the inner surface hydroxyl groups at 3695, 3682, 3670 and 3650 cm-1 appeared and increased in intensity. DRIFT spectra showed two bands at 3620 and 3626 cm-1 for the fully intercalated kaolinite only. Upon deintercalation an additional band assigned to intercalated water was observed at 3599 cm-1 and increased in intensity at the expense of the 3626 cm-1 band. Further, the bands attributed to the inner surface hydroxyl groups increased in intensity wit