Abstract
Hard clay was treated with Soxhlet-apparatus in order to remove the organic impurities. It was found in this process that hard clay catalyzes the aldol-type condensation reaction of acetone. The main product of this condensation reaction was diacetone alcohol. A small amount of mesityl oxide was obtained as by-product.
It has been well known that hard clay is a solid acid, but the results, showed that hard clay can act as a solid base. There was a marked difference in the ability to catalyze the aldol-type condensation reaction of acetone between hard clay and soft clay. Hard clay loaded in SBR showed no catalyzation ability for the aldol-type condensation reaction of acetone.
