O presente trabalho apresenta a síntese e a caracterização de derivados de quitosana, bem como o preparo e caracterização de filmes de nanocompósitos à base de quitosana comercial (ou seus derivados), argila (MMT) e nanopartículas de prata (NPs-Ag), obtidas via Fotoquímica. Para tanto, foram preparados, a partir da quitosana comercial (QC), os derivados: quitosana desacetilada (Q30des), quitosana purificada (QP), quitosanas parcialmente despolimerizas (QD30, QD21 e QD5), quitosanas hidrofílicas (QD21-40DEAE e QD5-49DEAE) e quitosanas anfifílicas (QD21-40DEAE-6DD, QD21-40DEAE-18DD, QD5-49DEAE-6DD e QD5-49DEAE-17DD). O grau médio de desacetilação das QC, QP e Q30des e de substituição por grupos DEAE e dodecila foram determinados por Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Hidrogênio (RMN de 1H). Ademais, os biopolímeros foram caracterizados por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR-ATR), Viscosimetria, Análise Termogravimétrica e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Em seguida, foi estudada a síntese de nanopartículas de prata, sob radiação UV, em filmes de nanocompósitos de quitosana comercial ou seus derivados e argila. Em um primeiro momento, estudou-se a formação das NPs-Ag em filmes de QC com diferentes formulações e posteriormente em filmes de derivados de quitosana contendo 10% de MMT (m/m). A técnica de Difração de Raios-X (DRX) foi utilizada para a determinação do espaçamento interlamelar da argila montmorilonita pura e nos compósitos preparados. A síntese das NPs-Ag foi acompanhada por Espectrofotometria de Absorção Molecular no UV-vis, e monitorada após um ano de sua formação, sendo suas características morfológicas, bem como a dispersão da argila nos nanocompósitos examinados por Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET). Por fim, a atividade antimicrobiana dos filmes de nanocompósitos foi avaliada pelo método de Disco de Difusão contra as bactérias Escherichia coli e Bacillus subtilis. / The present work presents the synthesis and characterization of chitosan derivatives, as well as the preparation and characterization of nanocomposite films based on commercial chitosan (or its derivatives), clay (MMT) and silver nanoparticles (NPs-Ag) obtained by photochemical method. Therefore, were prepared from commercial chitosan (QC): deacetylated chitosan (Q30des); purified chitosan (QP); partially depolymerized chitosans (QD30, QD21 and QD5); hydrophilic chitosans (QD21-40DEAE and QD5-QD5) and amphiphilic chitosans (QD21-40DEAE-6DD, QD21-40DEAE-18DD, QD5-49DEAE-6DD and QD5-49DEAE-17DD). The deacetylation degrees of QC, QP and Q30des were determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR). This technique also used to determine the degrees of substitution by DEAE and dodecyl groups. In addition, the biopolymers were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), Viscosimetry, Thermogravimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Moreover, the NPs-Ag synthesis under UV radiation was studied on nanocomposite films of commercial chitosan or its derivatives and clay. At first, the Ag-NPs formation was studied on QC films with different formulations and secondarily, on films of chitosan derivatives containing 10 wt % of MMT. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the interlamellar spacing of pure montmorillonite clay and in the nanocomposites prepared. The synthesis of the NP-Ag was accompanied by UV-vis Spectroscopy. Its morphological characteristics, as well as the clay dispersion in the nanocomposites were examined by Electron Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Finally, the antimicrobial activities of materials were investigated by the disk diffusion method against the bacteria Escherichia coli e Bacillus subtilis.

Nos últimos anos, a incorporação de partículas inorgânicas em uma matriz polimérica com a finalidade de se obter sistemas híbridos orgânico/inorgânico utilizando diferentes técnicas de polimerização tem recebido grande atenção. Neste sentido, preservar e controlar as propriedades físico-químicas das partículas inorgânicas torna-se essencial para manter a integridade destas em nanoescala, bem como para obtenção de dispersões uniformes, magnificando os efeitos de reforço e demais ganhos de propriedades desejadas para a matriz polimérica. Quando se utiliza partículas inorgânicas anisotrópicas tais como a montmorilonita, silicato lamelar mais utilizado para obtenção de nanocompósitos do tipo polímero/silicato lamelar, este controle apresenta-se como um problema particularmente desafiador. Nesse contexto, a polimerização radicalar controlada (PRC) vem se destacando como uma importante via para atingir os objetivos mencionados acima, encontrando-se na literatura diversas estratégias de síntese em meio a solventes orgânicos na qual a efetiva nanoencapsulação de partículas inorgânicas dá-se por meio do crescimento de cadeias poliméricas na superfície destas estruturas inorgânicas. Entretanto, poucos trabalhos são encontrados envolvendo rota de obtenção semelhante em meio aquoso, tais como suspensão, emulsão e miniemulsão, processos estes que possuem grande interesse industrial, ambiental e viabilidade real de ampliação de escala quanto à produção.Desta forma, o objetivo deste projeto de pesquisa concentra-se na síntese e na caracterização de nanocompósitos do tipo polímero/silicato lamelar via polimerização radicalar controlada em emulsão. As polimerizações radicalares controladas de estireno em emulsão, via mecanismo de transferência reversível de cadeia por adição-fragmentação (RAFT), foram conduzidas na presença de argila montmorilonita (MMT) e mediadas por dois macroagentes de transferência de cadeia com grupo funcional tri-tioéster, sendo o primeiro constituído de cadeia polimérica não iônica de monoetil éter de poli(etilenoglicol) (MPEG-CPP) e outro derivado do MPEG-CPP contendo adicionalmente um bloco ionizável de poli(ácido metacrílico) incorporado à cadeia polimérica (MPEG-b-PMAA-CPP). Foram avaliados inicialmente os parâmetros de adsorção dos macroagentes MPEG-CPP e MPEG-b-PMAA-CPP na superfície da MMT bem como a influência das variáveis do processo de polimerização na adsorção dos macroagentes na MMT e na estabilidade coloidal dos complexos macroagente RAFT / MMT formados. Posteriormente foram avaliados os efeitos do pH, das concentrações dos macroagente RAFT e de MMT, bem como do tipo de iniciador na cinética de polimerização em emulsão \"ab-initio\" de estireno, conduzidas na ausência de surfatantes. As técnicas utilizadas nos estudos de adsorção e para a caracterização das argilas, dos látices híbridos e dos materiais nanocompósitos incluem: espectroscopia de UV-vis, espalhamento dinâmico de luz (DLS), espalhamento eletroforético de luz (ELS), cromatografia de permeação em gel (GPC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM). / In recent years, the incorporation of inorganic particles in a polymer matrix in order to obtain hybrid organic/inorganic systems using different polymerization techniques have received great attention. In this sense, preserve and manage the physical and chemical properties of inorganic particles is essential to maintain its integrity at the nanoscale, as well as to obtain uniform dispersions of them, magnifying the effects of reinforcement and other desired properties into the polymer matrix. When using anisotropic inorganic nanoobjects such as montmorillonite, the most used layered silicate to obtain polymer / layered silicate nanocomposites, this control is presented as a particularly challenging problem. In this context, the controlled radical polymerization (CRP) has been highlighted as an important way to achieve the goals mentioned above, several strategies of organic solvent-borne synthesis can be found in literature in which the effective nanoencapsulation of inorganic particles is given by through the growth of polymer chains on the surface of these inorganic structures. However, few works are found involving obtaining similar route in water-borne, such as suspension, emulsion, miniemulsion, these procedures have great interest in industrial, environmental and actual feasibility of expanding scale in manufacture. Thus, the objective of this research project focuses on the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite-type polymer / layered silicate via controlled radical polymerization in emulsion media. The controlled radical polymerizations in emulsion, via transfer mechanism for the reversible addition-fragmentation chain (RAFT) have been conducted in the presence of montmorillonite clay (MMT) and mediated by two macroRAFT agents with functional tri-thioesters groups, being the first one constituted by a nonionic poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether polymeric chain (MPEG-CPP) and the second on being MPEG-CPP derived but containing additionally an ionizable block of poly(methacrylic acid) inserted to its polymeric chain. The parameters of adsorption of MPEG-CPP and MPEG-b-PMAA-CPP agent on the surface of MMT as well as the influence of the polymerization process variables on the adsorption of PEO-RAFT in MMT and colloidal stability of the complex formed macroRAFT agents / MMT were firstly evaluated. Subsequently, the influence of pH, macroRAFT agents and MMT concentrations as well as the type of initiator on the kinetics of RAFT emulsion polymerization were equally evaluated. The techniques used the for adsorption studies and characterization of clays, latexes of hybrid materials and nanocomposites include: UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2017-02-15T15:25:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Valentina Nascimento e Melo.pdf: 1846879 bytes, checksum: 0f435fbf6eac1935724bc84cb61e7e68 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-15T15:25:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Valentina Nascimento e Melo.pdf: 1846879 bytes, checksum: 0f435fbf6eac1935724bc84cb61e7e68 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Two strategies were considered for the synthesis of 2,3-unsaturated O-glucosyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The reaction between tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal and triazole alcohols gave no stereoselectivity. In fact, β-isomer formation was increased. A second strategy furnished 2,3-unsaturated O-glucosides from tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal and alkynols via Ferrier rearrangement; this methodology employing montmorillonite K-10 doped with FeCl3∙6H2O affords new glycosides in good to excellent yields, short time and high α-stereoselectivity in dichloromethane. Subsequently, the glucosides were coupled with 2-azido-1,4-naphthoquinone to give a new series of 1,2,3-1H-triazolyl O-glucoside derivatives based on click reaction. / Duas estratégias foram consideradas para a síntese de 1,2,3-triazóis O-glicosídeos2,3-insaturados. A reação entre o tri-O-acetil-D-glucal e os alcoóis triazólicos não mostrou seletividade. De fato, a formação do isômero β foi aumentada. Uma segunda estratégia forneceu O-glicosídeos 2,3-insaturados a partir do tri-O-acetil-D-glucal e alquinóis via rearranjo de Ferrier; esta metodologia formou novos glicosídeos, empregando montmorilonite K-10 dopado com FeCl3∙6H2O em diclorometano, em rendimentos de bons à excelentes, baixo tempo reacional e alta α-estereosseletividade. Subsequentemente, os glicosídeos foram acoplados com 2-azido-1,4-naftoquinona formando uma nova série de derivados 1,2,3-1H-triazolil O-glicosídeos através da reação Click.

O presente trabalho apresenta a síntese e a caracterização de derivados de quitosana, bem como o preparo e caracterização de filmes de nanocompósitos à base de quitosana comercial (ou seus derivados), argila (MMT) e nanopartículas de prata (NPs-Ag), obtidas via Fotoquímica. Para tanto, foram preparados, a partir da quitosana comercial (QC), os derivados: quitosana desacetilada (Q30des), quitosana purificada (QP), quitosanas parcialmente despolimerizas (QD30, QD21 e QD5), quitosanas hidrofílicas (QD21-40DEAE e QD5-49DEAE) e quitosanas anfifílicas (QD21-40DEAE-6DD, QD21-40DEAE-18DD, QD5-49DEAE-6DD e QD5-49DEAE-17DD). O grau médio de desacetilação das QC, QP e Q30des e de substituição por grupos DEAE e dodecila foram determinados por Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Hidrogênio (RMN de 1H). Ademais, os biopolímeros foram caracterizados por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR-ATR), Viscosimetria, Análise Termogravimétrica e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). Em seguida, foi estudada a síntese de nanopartículas de prata, sob radiação UV, em filmes de nanocompósitos de quitosana comercial ou seus derivados e argila. Em um primeiro momento, estudou-se a formação das NPs-Ag em filmes de QC com diferentes formulações e posteriormente em filmes de derivados de quitosana contendo 10% de MMT (m/m). A técnica de Difração de Raios-X (DRX) foi utilizada para a determinação do espaçamento interlamelar da argila montmorilonita pura e nos compósitos preparados. A síntese das NPs-Ag foi acompanhada por Espectrofotometria de Absorção Molecular no UV-vis, e monitorada após um ano de sua formação, sendo suas características morfológicas, bem como a dispersão da argila nos nanocompósitos examinados por Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET). Por fim, a atividade antimicrobiana dos filmes de nanocompósitos foi avaliada pelo método de Disco de Difusão contra as bactérias Escherichia coli e Bacillus subtilis. / The present work presents the synthesis and characterization of chitosan derivatives, as well as the preparation and characterization of nanocomposite films based on commercial chitosan (or its derivatives), clay (MMT) and silver nanoparticles (NPs-Ag) obtained by photochemical method. Therefore, were prepared from commercial chitosan (QC): deacetylated chitosan (Q30des); purified chitosan (QP); partially depolymerized chitosans (QD30, QD21 and QD5); hydrophilic chitosans (QD21-40DEAE and QD5-QD5) and amphiphilic chitosans (QD21-40DEAE-6DD, QD21-40DEAE-18DD, QD5-49DEAE-6DD and QD5-49DEAE-17DD). The deacetylation degrees of QC, QP and Q30des were determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR). This technique also used to determine the degrees of substitution by DEAE and dodecyl groups. In addition, the biopolymers were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), Viscosimetry, Thermogravimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Moreover, the NPs-Ag synthesis under UV radiation was studied on nanocomposite films of commercial chitosan or its derivatives and clay. At first, the Ag-NPs formation was studied on QC films with different formulations and secondarily, on films of chitosan derivatives containing 10 wt % of MMT. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the interlamellar spacing of pure montmorillonite clay and in the nanocomposites prepared. The synthesis of the NP-Ag was accompanied by UV-vis Spectroscopy. Its morphological characteristics, as well as the clay dispersion in the nanocomposites were examined by Electron Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Finally, the antimicrobial activities of materials were investigated by the disk diffusion method against the bacteria Escherichia coli e Bacillus subtilis.

No description available.

In Sweden the encapsulated nuclear waste will be surrounded by compacted bentonite in the granitic host rock. In contact with water-bearing fractures the bentonite barrier may release montmorillonite colloids that may be further transported in groundwater. If large amounts of material are eroded from the barrier, the buffer functionality can be compromised. Furthermore, in the scenario of a leaking canister, strongly sorbing radionuclides, can be transported by montmorillonite colloids towards the biosphere. This thesis addresses the effects of groundwater chemistry on the generation, stability, sorption and transport of montmorillonite colloids in water bearing rock fractures. To be able to predict quantities of montmorillonite colloids released from the bentonite barrier in contact with groundwater of varying salinity, generation and sedimentation test were performed. The aim is first to gain understanding on the processes involved in colloid generation from the bentonite barrier. Secondly it is to test if concentration gradients of montmorillonite colloids outside the barrier determined by simple sedimentation experiments are comparable to generation tests. Identical final concentrations and colloid size distributions were achieved in both types of tests. Colloid stability is strongly correlated to the groundwater chemistry. The impact of pH, ionic strength and temperature was studied. Aggregation kinetics experiments revealed that for colloid aggregation rate increased with increasing ionic strength. The aggregation rate decreased with increasing pH. The temperature effect on montmorillonite colloid stability is pH-dependent. At pH≤4, the rate constant for colloid aggregation increased with increasing temperature, regardless of ionic strength. At pH≥10, the aggregation rate constant decreased with increasing temperature. In the intermediate pH interval, the aggregation rate constant decreased with increasing temperature except at the highest ionic strength, where it increased. The relationship between the rate constant and the ionic strength allowed the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) for Na- and Ca-montmorillonite to be determined. In order to distinguish the contribution of physical filtration and sorption to colloid retention in transport, the different retention mechanisms were quantified. Sorption on different representative minerals in granite fractures was measured for latex colloids (50, 100, 200 nm) and montmorillonite colloids as a function of ionic strength and pH. Despite of the negative charge in mineral surfaces and colloids, sorption was detected. The sorption is correlated to the mineral point of zero charge and the zeta potential of the colloids, and increases with increasing ionic strength and decreasing pH. In transport experiments with latex colloids in columns packed with fracture filling material, the retention by sorption could clearly be seen. In particular at low flow rates, when the contact time for colloids with the mineral surfaces were the longest, sorption contributed to retention of the transport significantly. The retention of latex colloids appeared to be irreversible in contrary to the reversible montmorillonite colloid retention. Generation, stability and sorption of the montmorillonite colloids are controlled by electrostatic forces; hence, the results were in qualitative agreement with DLVO.

The focus of this study is on potential damages to buildings resulting from expansive soils in Tanzania, particularly clay soils in Kibaha. For the fact that most of the affected structures are founded on expansive soils, a clear understanding of the behaviour of soils and their interaction with structures has been of interest to the study in order to evaluate properly the source of the problem.The geotechnical behaviour of expansive clay soils is investigated by looking into the geomorphologic, geological and climatic conditions and mineralogical composition of the soils in the study area.Two sites, representative of known problem-areas in Kibaha were selected for geotechnical tests. Geotechnical site investigation consisted of open trial pits, profile description and the collection of both disturbed and undisturbed samples. To extend and amplify the findings, supplementary samples were collected from the environs of the two sites.The collected samples were submitted to soil laboratories at KTH, ARU, SEAMIC and DIT for mineralogical composition tests, natural water content, density, Atterberg limits and swell tests. The results of this investigation indicate that soils in Kibaha contains clay (31%), have high liquid limit (59%) and plastic limit (37%) which indicate high potential swell.Since swell pressure, free swell and swell percent are key properties of expansive soils, the swell properties were measured by free swell tests and one-dimensional oedometer swell tests. The free swell ranged from 100% to 150% and the swell pressure was in the region of 45 kPa. The coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE) was determined for characterizing expansive clays. For all tested samples, COLE ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 indicating that soils fall in the region of high to very high expansion potential rating. The properties of expansive soils were confirmed by the x-ray diffraction test which showed the presence of smectite in the soil. Furthermore, total suction measurement technique using filter paper method indicated that the soils have high suction values, signifying that they have a tendency to swell upon wetting depending on plasticity of particular soil.The depth of the active zone was measured as a function of moisture variations in the profiles during two extreme weather conditions. The active zone depth was found to be between 1.0 and 2.0 m deep. Procedures to assess models to predict swell in the case study were outlined together with their validity.Vertical and horizontal spatial variability in selected soil properties was defined using geostatistical techniques through the fitting of variogram. The indicator semivariograms of both clay contents and free swell gave a range of 20 m horizontally and 1.0 m vertically, with the horizontal variograms exhibiting greater ranges than the dipping variograms.Physical conditions of the surveyed properties in the area confirmed that building damages are associated with poor building materials triggered by expansive soils. In support of the obtained data, the actual behaviour of the foundations was supplemented with prototypes of strip foundations whose performances were monitored over a period of four months. Finally, suggested are the ways forward to solve the problem of foundation on expansive soil / QC 20100824

Chitosan, Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) and vital wheat gluten (WG) are three biomaterials that have quite promising properties for packaging purposes. They have good film forming properties and good gas barrier properties in dry conditions. Moreover, because they are produced from industrial waste of food processing, they offer an ecological advantage over polymers made from petroleum. However, their physicochemical characteristics still must be improved for them to be of commercial interest for the food packaging industry. The purpose of this work was to study different strategies aiming to improve the water resistance and aging properties of these polymers, which are some of the key disadvantages of these materials. The produced solution cast chitosan and WPI films were characterised with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density measurements and thermogravimetry. The water vapour transmission rate was determined at a relative humidity of 11%. In the first part, mechanical properties of solid films and seals were assessed by tensile testing. WG film’s tensile properties and oxygen and water vapour permeabilities were measured as a function of aging time. The changes in the protein structure were determined by infrared spectroscopy and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography and the film structure was revealed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Gluten-clay nanocomposites were characterised by tensile testing, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The incorporation of a hydrophobic biodegradable polymer, poly ( ε-caprolactone), PCL, in both chitosan and whey protein, yielded a significant decrease in water vapour transmission rate. It was observed that a certain amount of the PCL particles were ellipsoidal in chitosan and fibrous in WPI. The obtained data also indicated that the particle shape had an important influence in the water vapour transmission rate. In the second part, the aging properties of WG films, plasticized with glycerol and cast from water/ethanol solutions with pH=4 or pH=11 were investigated. WG films made from alkaline solutions were mechanically more time-stable than the acidic ones, the latter being initially very ductile but turning brittle towards the end of the aging period. The protein solubility measurements indicated that the protein structure of the acidic films was initially significantly less aggregated than the in basic films. During aging the acidic films lost more mass than the basic films through slow evaporation of volatiles (water/ethanol) and through migration of glycerol to the paper support. The oxygen permeability was also lower for the basic films. In the last part, the properties of new and aged glycerol-plasticized WG films at acidic and basic conditions containing ≤4.5 wt% natural or quaternary-ammonium-salt-modified montmorillonite were studied. Films of WG with montmorillonite were possible to produce by solution casting. The aging rate of acidic and basic films was unaffected by the incorporation of clay. However, the large reduction in water vapour permeability for most systems suggested that the clay sheets were evenly distributed within the films. The film prepared from basic solution and containing natural clay was almost completely exfoliated as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The best water vapour barrier properties were obtained by using modified clay. / QC 20101013

No description available.

Bentonite clays are exposed in Paleogene strata stretching over 650 km parallel to the Texas coastline. This study focuses on a white and blue and a yellow and brown commercial Ca-montmorillonite bentonite near the city of Gonzales, Gonzales county, Texas. The deposits have stratigraphic ages of Late Eocene (~36.7 - 32.7 Ma). The bentonites in these deposits have varying colors, purities and brightness affording them diverse industrial uses. The distribution and geologic character of the high purity white and blue bentonite suggests that the deposit represents an accumulation of volcanic ash in a secondary tidal channel during the ash-fall event. A low rate of terrigenous clastic sedimentation and rapid accumulation of fresh ash were critical to the formation of high purity clay. The lower purity yellow and brown bentonites appear to have a fluvial origin marked by higher rates of detrital sedimentation and episodic accumulation of clay and ash. The bentonite and associated strata were studied using optical microscopy, SEM, XRD and REE analyses to constrain their textural, mineralogic, and chemical character. vii Eocene pyroclastic volcanism is well documented from sources in southwestern North America, specifically in the Sierra Madre Occidental (Mexico), Trans-Pecos (Texas) and Mogollan-Datil (New Mexico) volcanic fields. Projected Eocene wind patterns support this region as a potential source for the Gonzales bentonites. A comparison of the trace and REE fingerprints of the white and blue bentonites and the yellow and brown bentonites with data available for Late Eocene volcanics in the North American Volcanic Database provides a couple of potential matches. The strongest potential match for the Late Eocene bentonite protolith is described as a sample of silicic tuff with an age range of 32.2 – 30.6 Ma, located in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. While the trace and REE match is strong, the tuff is somewhat young compared to the Jackson Group sediments. In addition, the sample location is due almost directly south of the Gonzales deposits, rather than the western location expected for a Gonzales bentonite source. The other potential matches are located in New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. These potential matches only have 6 REE available for comparison, and require further investigation. Many Paleogene volcanic units in southern North America are undocumented with regard to REE data or precise absolute ages. As additional geochemical analyses become available for a more extensive suite of Paleogene volcanic units, stronger matches with Gulf of Mexico Basin bentonites are expected to emerge. / text