Characterization and pozzolanic activity of thermally treated zeolite

Summary The pozzolanic reactivity of thermally treated zeolites was studied on the basis of the Chapelle test combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform (FTIR) spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The raw zeolite samples are from the Pentalofos area, Thrace, NE Greece. Their main mineral constituent is 'heulandite type-II', an intermediate type of the heulandite-clinoptilolite isomorphous series. Calcination of the samples was carried out up to 400, 500, 600, 700 and 1000°C for 15 h. The changes were recorded using the above methods. The deformation of the zeolite crystal lattice starts at about 400°C and proceeds as the temperature of thermal treatment rises. The thermal treatment of zeolite at 400°C improves its pozzolanic reactivity and accelerates the reaction with Ca(OH)₂.     

First findings of monocrystalline aragonite inclusions in garnet from diamond-grade UHPM rocks (Kokchetav Massif, Northern Kazakhstan)

The crystal field effect and microscopic origins of the Zeeman g-factors g(//) and g(⊥) for (6)S(3d(5)) state ions at tetragonal symmetry crystal filed, taking into account the spin-spin (SS), the spin-other-orbit (SOO), and the orbit-orbit (OO) magnetic interactions besides the well-known spin-orbit (SO) magnetic interaction, have been investigated using the microscopic spin Hamiltonian theory and the complete diagonalization method (CDM). It is found that the g(//)(±1/2)≠g(//)(±5/2) and g(⊥)(±1/2)≠g(⊥)(±5/2), where the g-factors g(//)(±1/2) and g(⊥)(±1/2) express the g-factors of the ground state |M?(s)=±1/2), whereas the g-factors g(//)(±5/2) and g(⊥)(±5/2) express the g-factors of the ground state |M?(s)=±5/2). It is shown that although the SO magnetic interaction is the most important one, the contributions to the shifts of g-factors Δg(//)(=2.0023-g(//)) and Δg(⊥)(=2.0023-g(⊥)) from other three magnetic interactions including the SS, SOO, and OO magnetic interactions are appreciable and should not be omitted, especially for the shifts of g-factors Δg(//)(±5/2) and Δg(⊥)(±5/2). The individual contributions to the shifts of g-factors arising from the spin quartet states and spin doublet states have been studied. The investigations show that the Δg(//)(±1/2) and Δg(⊥)(±1/2) primarily result from the spin quartet states, whereas Δg(//)(±5/2) and Δg(⊥)(±5/2) from the spin quartet states as well as the combined effects between the spin quartet states and the spin doublet states. The contribution to the shifts of g-factors from the net spin doublet states is zero.     

Study of raw and thermally treated sepiolite from the Mantoudi area,Euboea, Greece

Raw and thermally treated sepiolites from the Mantoudi area, Euboea, Greece, were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) in combination with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), as well as Fourier transform (FTIR) spectroscopy, in order to study the collapse of the sepiolite structure with increasing temperature. The main mineral constituent (>95%) is a well crystallized sepiolite. Quartz and dolomite occur in minor amounts. Calcination of the samples was carried out up to 350, 720 and 820°C, for 2 h, and ‘sepiolite dihydrite’, ‘sepiolite anhydrite’ and ‘enstatite’ were formed, respectively, as magnesium co-ordinated water and octahedrically co-ordinated hydroxyl groups, are removed and the dehydroxylated phase recrystallize to enstatite (MgSiO₃). These structural and textural changes play an important role to the properties and uses of the studied sepiolites.     

Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes as novel MOCVD precursors for potential cobalt oxide deposition

The potential use of the inclusion complexes of β‐cyclodextrins with metal halides as novel precursors in MOCVD applications was examined in terms of microstructure, thermal stability and chemical modifications during heating. The investigation was especially focused on the inclusion complex of β‐cyclodextrin with cobalt iodide for cobalt oxide thin film deposition. The general composition assigned to the dextrin's inclusion complex was: (β‐CD)₂^?CoI₇^?11H₂O. It was found that the inclusion complex of β‐cyclodextrin with CoI₂ may prove a promising alternative to traditional metalorganic or organometallic Co‐precursors for precise CVD applications. The sublimation temperature must be preferably in the range 70–125 °C, and the decomposition temperature (substrate temperature) in the range of 350–400 °C. Three distinct regions can be recognized by heating: transformation of tightly bound water molecules into easily movable ones, sublimation of iodine ions and Co atoms oscillation and thermal decomposition of the glycositic ring into volatile by‐products. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase transformations of nickeliferous laterites during preheating and reduction with carbon monoxide

This article refers to the mineralogical composition and phase transformations of Greek nickeliferous laterites and to their metallurgical behaviour, during preheating and reduction with carbon monoxide. Transformation of goethite to hematite and decomposition of chlorite and serpentine, were identified during preheating. Higher iron metallization was achieved for the ore in which goethite is the main iron mineral and reduction goes up to 95%, whereas it goes up to 50% for the ore in which hematite is the main iron mineral. The higher reducibility, however, seems to be due to the higher specific surface area of the goethitic type of ore.     

Brown diamonds from an eclogite xenolith from Udachnaya kimberlite, Yakutia, Russia

We have performed petrographic and spectroscopic studies of brown diamonds from an eclogite xenolith from the Udachnaya pipe (Yakutia, Russia). Brown diamonds are randomly intermixed with colorless ones in the rock and often located at the grain boundaries of clinopyroxene and garnet. Brown diamonds can be characterized by a set of defects (H4, N2D and a line at 490.7 nm) which are absent in colorless diamonds. This set of defects is typical for plastically deformed diamonds and indicates that diamonds were likely annealed for a relatively short period after deformation had occurred. Excitation of brown colored zones with a 632.8 nm He-Ne laser produced the typical diamond band plus two additional bands at 1730 cm(-1) and 3350 cm(-1). These spectral features are not genuine Raman bands, and can be attributed to photoluminescence at ～710 nm (1.75 eV) and ～802 nm (1.54 eV). No Raman peak corresponding to graphite was observed in regions of brown coloration. Comparison with previous reports of brown diamonds from eclogites showed our eclogitic sample to have a typical structure without signs of apparent deformation. Two mechanisms with regard to diamond deformation are proposed: deformation of eclogite by external forces followed by subsequent recrystallization of silicates or, alternatively, deformation by local stress arising due to decompression and expansion of silicates during ascent of the xenolith to surface conditions.     

Secondary raw materials in cement industry

The sintering and hydration processes of a modified cement raw mix were examined using thermal analysis techniques. One reference and four modified mixtures, prepared by mixing the reference sample with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % w/w of a wolframite-stibnite mineral were studied. The clinkering reactions were recorded and the total enthalpy change during the sintering was determined by means of a differential scanning calorimetry. The combined water and the Ca(OH)₂ content in samples hydrated for 1 to 28 days were determined, using thermogravimetry. As it is concluded, the effect of the added mineral on the sintering and hydration reactions can be fully recorded and evaluated using thermal analysis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The luminescent carbon-bearing microinclusion enigma in the Kimi Unit, Rhodope, Greece: Raman microscopic point analyses and mapping with different lasers

The Kimi Unit of the Rhodope Metamorphic Province (RMP), NE Greece, experienced ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism (UHPM), as documented by the unequivocal presence of diamond microinclusions in metapelitic garnet porphyroblasts. Certain peculiar lozenge-shaped 2-8 microm sized inclusions in diamond-bearing garnets reveal a broad composite and asymmetric triplet band (phase XXX) at approximately 1331 cm(-1) in their Raman spectra acquired with a 632.8 nm He-Ne laser, initially attributed to an sp(3)-hybridized C-polymorph. These have been meticulously re-investigated by means of combined 2-wavelength (514.5 nm/632.8 nm laser) Raman microscopy. Raman mapping has been extensively employed in order to examine the spatial distribution of phase XXX and of other phases in these polyphase inclusions and to explore for additional Raman bands. The triplet band at approximately 1331 cm(-1) measured with the 632.8 nm laser shifts to much higher wavenumbers ( approximately 4966 cm(-1)) when excited with a 514.5 nm Ar(+) laser, proving that the XXX triplet is not a real Raman band but a luminescence one at approximately 691.1 nm. Numerous hypotheses on the nature of the mysterious phase XXX (e.g. Cr(3+)-bearing mineral, carbonate, C polymorph, gas, organic phase) are explored and discussed but all are shown to be unsatisfactory. It is suggested that XXX occurs as nanocrystals that luminesce strongly giving the appearance (in Raman maps) of being larger.