Papers by Keyword: Clay Minerals

Abstract: During the calcination of kaolin particles, kaolinite is thermally activated at high temperatures, causing the crystal structure to collapse and yielding amorphous metakaolinite through dehydroxylation. This metakaolinite is used as a supplementary cementitious material, and one of the most important factors influencing the pozzolanic properties is calcination conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has become useful in distinguishing and obtaining information about structural order-disorder and phase transformation following the calcination process. In this study, water-washed kaolin particles were thermally activated at elevated temperatures ranging from 600 to 800 °C for 3–4 h at a rate of 10 °C/min before being analyzed with FTIR to determine the optimum conditions for calcining kaolin particles by examining functional groups, and also to study structural order-disorder or crystallinity of calcined kaolin particles. The most reactive metakaolinite state of water-washed kaolin particles was achieved after 3 h of calcination at 800 °C. Using both empirical and numerical approaches, variations in the position and relative intensity of O-H stretching and deformation of hydroxyl groups in the infrared spectrum can be used to classify the degree of structural order of water-washed kaolin particles. By increasing the calcination temperatures and period, the well-ordered and partially-ordered structures of kaolin particles were transformed into well-ordered, partially-ordered, and poorly-ordered structures. These structural disorder and crystallinity have a significant impact on pozzolanic activity because well-ordered kaolinite can be transformed into less reactive metakaolinite, whereas poorly-ordered kaolinite with high defects can be transformed into more reactive metakaolinite. However, in this study, the structure of water-washed kaolin particles that achieved complete dehydroxylation was discovered to be partially-ordered to poorly-ordered and can be transformed into highly reactive pozzolans.

Abstract: Clays are materials consisting of clay minerals and non-clay minerals. Clay mineral fraction is considered to be a nanofraction. Clay minerals can be used for water purification and treatment. Description and characterization of 3 different Latvian clay nanosized minerals from 3 different geological periods (clay Liepa from Devonian period, clay Vadakste from Triassic period and clay Apriki from Quaternary period) as well as their adsorption capacity concerning organic compounds such as methyl orange and rhodamine B are summarized. Nanosized clay mineral particles were obtained using sedimentation method. Particle size distribution, zeta potential and FTIR spectra is given. The adsorption tests of above mentioned organic compounds were carried out in water solutions at 3 different pH values. The adsorption values were determined by means of UV-spectrophotometric technique. Zeta potential values for clay minerals Apriki, Liepa and Vadakste are -40.9 mV, -49.6 mV and -43.0 mV, respectively. FTIR spectra show similar tendencies for all 3 clay minerals. The best adsorption capacity concerning methyl orange and rhodamine B were in solutions with a pH value of 2, whereas at neutral and alkaline pH values adsorption in 24 hours was not observed.

Abstract: Clays are materials consisting of clay minerals and non-clay minerals. Some applications allow to use raw clay others require to separate clay minerals from non-clay minerals. Clay mineral fraction is considered to be a nanofraction. Description and characterization of 3 different Latvian clay nanosized minerals from 3 different geological periods (clay Liepa from Devonian period, clay Vadakste from Triassic period and clay Apriki from Quaternary period) are summarized. The main mineral in these clays is illite, however the presence of kaolinite is observed and its quantity depends on geological period in which clays formed. Nanosized clay mineral particles were obtained using sedimentation method. Comparison of mineralogical composition, BET nitrogen adsorption, zeta potential, DTA/TG analysis and FTIR spectra is given. XRD phase analysis results were very close to each other and shows that mineral of illite is more than that of kaolinite. BET nitrogen adsorption data shows that clay minerals of Apriki has the highest specific surface area (81 m²/g), whereas clay minerals of Vadakste has it the lowest (43 m²/g). Zeta potential values for clay minerals Apriki, Liepa and Vadakste are-40.9 mV, -49.6 mV and-43.0 mV, respectively. DTA analysis and FTIR spectra show similar tendencies for all 3 clay minerals.

Abstract: The microscopic morphological characteristics of main clay minerals in Zhangcun illite ores were studied by using high-resolution scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and image analysis technology. The results show that: (1) the illite generally appear as crooked scaly and foliated partly; (2) illite/smectite (I/S) mixed layered mineral are banding flake with filamentous edge mostly and cusp type flake partly; (3) pyrophyllite appear to be flake and tabular sheet forming hollow pipe; (4) serpentinite are obviously fine flake with wavy shape .

Abstract: Microwave heating was discovered more than 60 years ago. And nowadays, it became popular for the use as domestic ovens. Microwave has also been utilized for the industrial processes, such as drying and roasting. On the other hand, there have been many applications of microwave, being investigated for materials' processing and environmental technologies. They are attempted to take advantage of some specific characteristics in microwave heating, which differs from that of the conventional one. Rapid heating, internal heating, selective heating are the features to be taken into consideration. Moreover, so-called "non-thermal effect" is the additional feature in which researchers are particularly interested. In this article, it is intended to describe fundamental aspects in microwave heating and introduce some selected topics of research projects performed in our research group. They include researches on fabrication of some functional materials and on handling industrial wastes etc. In this article, it is also intended to interpret the phenomena observed in these applications from the fundamental view points of electromagnetic wave interaction with materials.

Abstract: Linxia basin is a late Cenozoic fault-block basin along the border between the Tibet plateau and the Loess plateau in Northwestern China. Its formation and sediments’ record may be directly affected by the structural dynamics and the uplift of the Tibet Plateau. For this reason, we studied the mineral characteristics of the Maogou formation of Miocene sediments using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results showed that quartz, chlorite, illite, calcite, plagioclase, orthoclase, kaolinite, and trace palygorskite are present throughout the sequence of the cross-section in Linxia basin. In contrast, gypsum and ankerite occur occasionally in the upper portion of the Miocene deposits. The content of calcite varied with layers in the profile and was relatively concentrated in mudstone. Chlorite and illite were observed transforming into palygorskite under SEM observation. Based on the mineral characteristics and the change of mineral composition, especially the clay minerals, it could be inferred that an arid environment prevailed in the region with warm and cold intervals during Miocene time.

Abstract: By X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and other research methods, this paper detailedly analysizes types and micro-characteristics of clay minerals in the Ordos Basin, Chang 8 formation of Xifeng Oilfield. Studies suggest that clay minerals mainly include petal-like and pompon chlorite, bridge-like and curved sheet illite, page-like kaolinite. The content of illite / smectite interstratified minerals is less. Different kinds of clay minerals can lead to different kinds of reservoir damage. The chlorite mainly causes acid sensitivity. The illite and kaolinite are the main source of speed-sensitivity damage. The illite / smectite interstratified minerals could easily lead to water-sensitivity damage. Through the above studies, this paper can provide foundation of geological basis for rational development.