3.1.4. Determination of BET Surface Area. The surface area of bentonite shows a significant increase with activation by acid. Measured values are 66.2 and 287.8 m 2 g −1 for raw and activated bentonite, respectively. Since this increase is a result of removing impurities, replacement of exchangeable cations, such as K +, Na +, and Ca 2+, with H + ions, and leaching out …