Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonites, are activated by contacting the Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonite with an acid solution of selected concentration and then drying the Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonite to form an activated bentonite catalyst. This activated bentonite catalyst may be used to polymerize a vinyl, acrylic, cyclic ether, aldehyde, lactone or olefin monomer. In a further embodiment, a perflourinated amine or diamine is synthesized by contacting a Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonite with an acid solution of selected concentration, drying the Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonite, and absorbing a secondary amine with the Maghnia or Mostaganem bentonite to form a perflouroamide iodide salt. The perflouramide idodide salt can then be extracted with a polar solvent and neutralized by the use of a basic solution.