The adsorption of aliphatic alcohols by montmorillonite and kaolinite

Adsorption isotherms for an homologous series of primary aliphatic alcohols from aqueous solution by montmorillonite and kaolinite saturated with either sodium or calcium ions have been determined. The results show that adsorption is a function of chain length and exchangeable cation in the case of the more insoluble alcohols. Exchangeable cation does not affect the adsorption of the soluble alcohols to any significant extent. Adsorption of the longer chain alcohols occurs in voids in the mineral aggregates.