X-ray diffraction of bentonite and bentonite loaded with potassium
sorbate were carried out using the following test conditions:
Cu Kalpha (lambda = 0.154 nm), a voltage of 40 kV, a current of
200 mA, a scanning range of 2h = 3–70, and a scanning speed of
5 /min. Fig. 3 shows the net surface diffraction of bentonite
(001) shifted to the small angle direction. Through calculation, it
was found that the d(001) of bentonite increased from 12.6553 Å
to 12.7649 Å when it was mixed with potassium sorbate on the
surface, indicating increased layer spacing. This could be explained
by the exchange between many bulk organic groups and cationic
ions or water molecules in the montmorillonite, such that the layer
spacing became wider