Catalytic Activity of Sodium Kaolinites

Abstract
Kaolinites, catalytically active for the polymerization of styrene, can be deactivated by treatment with 1N aqueous sodium chloride. Subsequent washing of the sodium kaolinite results in a facile hydrolysis yielding an active hydronium/aluminum kaolinite in which the exchangeable cations act as surface Br0onsted acid initiation sites.