Organobentonites are produced by the exchange of organic cations (typically having a quaternary ammonium and aliphatic structure) for inorganic ions (e.g., H+ , Na+ , Ca2+
) on the layer surfaces of bentonite [13]. When using long-chain alkyl ammonium cations, the hydrophobic partition medium within the clay layer can form and function analogously to a bulk organic phase. The interlayer height of clay before modification is relatively small and the intergallery environment is then hydrophobic. Intercalation of cationic surfactant not only changes the surface properties from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, but also greatly increases the basal spacing of the layers. Such surface property changes affect the application of the organoclay. In particular, the hydrophobic nature of the organoclay implies the material can be used as filter material for water purification. The modified surfaces of organo-bentonite may become organophilic because the organic functional groups of quaternary ammonium cations are not strongly hydrated by water. As a result, organobentonites are powerful adsorbents for nonionic organics relative to natural bentonite and other clays [14].