Problems in layer-charge determination of montmorillonites

Spanish montmorillonites from Frente Archidona were used to demonstrate the determination of charge density, CEC and, in mixtures, the montmorillonite content by the aikylammonium method. Special attention is directed to heterogeneous montmorillonites and the determination of the charge density distribution. Some problems which arise by application of the method are discussed: relations between layer charge and cation densities, particle size corrections, microstructures and unsymmetric charge distributions in the interlayer spaces.