How can I prepare an organoclay?
Cloisite® Na+ should be dispersed in water at a solids level below 7% using high shear. The CEC of Cloisite® Na+ is 92meq/100g clay so to make a clay at the CEC, 92meq of quat or onium ion should be added to the slurry. (The ion exchange can be done at room temperature, but would recommend running the reaction at a higher temperature, around 60°C. The reaction mixture will become quite viscous so an overhead stirrer is more effective to use for mixing than a magnetic stir bar.) Stir the reaction mixture for about an hour then filter to isolate the organoclay. Wash the organoclay with water and dry the clay. The drying can be done in an oven at about 80°C. There are a variety of ways to grind the clay to a finer particle size, but some simple ways are to use a coffee mill or food processor. A sieve can be used to remove large particles which can be milled again.
