Adsorption of oleic acid and triolein onto various minerals and surface treated minerals

A systematic investigation of the adsorption of oleic acid was under-taken with various minerals and surface treated minerals, viz., kaolinite, treated kaolinites, montmorillonites, talcs, gibbsites, calcites and a treated calcite. Adsorption onto kaolinite, two of the treated kaolinites (amine and MgSiO₃ treated), talcs and gibbsites was well correlated by the Langmuir model, while adsorption on the treated calcite was well correlated by the Freundlich model. Adsorption on a cationic polymer-treated kaolinite was explained in terms of a cooperative mechanism. Adsorption onto montmorillonites was explained in terms of a penetrative mechanism involving exchangeable cations.Oleic acid adsorption was compared with triolein adsorption on one of the montmorillonites, two adsorbents produced by the surface treatment of this montmorillonite, and one of the talcs. The triolein adsorption of the montmorillonite was considerably less than its oleic acid adsorption, and was explained in terms of a cooperative mechanism. Triolein adsorption of the treated montmorillonites, and the talc was well correlated by the Langmuir model. Larger amounts of triolein were taken up by the treated montmorillonites than by the untreated montmorillonite. The triolein adsorption of the talc was greater than its oleic acid adsorption.     

Effect of water on the formamide-intercalation of kaolinite

The molecular structures of low defect kaolinite completely intercalated with formamide and formamide-water mixtures have been determined using a combination of X-ray diffraction, thermoanalytical techniques, DRIFT and Raman spectroscopy. Expansion of the kaolinite to 10.09 A was observed with subtle differences whether the kaolinite was expanded with formamide or formamide-water mixtures. Thermal analysis showed that greater amounts of formamide could be intercalated into the kaolinite in the presence of water. New infrared bands were observed for the formamide intercalated kaolinites at 3648, 3630 and 3606 cm(-1). These bands are attributed to the hydroxyl stretching frequencies of the inner surface hydroxyls hydrogen bonded to formamide with water, formamide and interlamellar water. Bands were observed at similar positions in the Raman spectrum. At liquid nitrogen temperature, the 3630 cm(-1) Raman band separated into two bands at 3633 and 3625 cm(-1). DRIFT spectra showed the hydroxyl deformation mode at 905 cm(-1). Changes in the molecular structure of the formamide are observed through both the NH stretching vibrations and the amide 1 and 2 bands. Upon intercalation of kaolinite with formamide, bands are observed at 3460, 3344, 3248 and 3167 cm(-1) attributed to the NH stretching vibration of the NH involved with hydrogen bonded to the oxygens of the kaolinite siloxane surface. In the DRIFT spectra of the formamide intercalated kaolinites bands are observed at 1700 and 1671 cm(-1) and are attributed to the amide 1 and amide 2 vibrations.     

Attachment of Pseudomonas putida onto differently structured kaolinite minerals: a combined ATR-FTIR and 1H NMR study

The attachment of Pseudomonas (P.) putida onto well (KGa-1) and poorly (KGa-2) crystallized kaolinite was investigated in this study. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the attachment isotherms of P. putida onto both types of kaolinite particles. The attachment process of P. putida onto KGa-1 and KGa-2 was adequately described by a Langmuir isotherm. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance were employed to study the attachment mechanisms of P. putida. Experimental results indicated that KGa-2 presented higher affinity and attachment capacity than KGa-1. It was shown that electrostatic interactions and clay mineral structural disorders can influence the attachment capacity of clay mineral particles.     

Raman spectroscopy of urea and urea-intercalated kaolinites at 77 K

The Raman spectra of urea and urea-intercalated kaolinites have been recorded at 77 K using a Renishaw Raman microprobe equipped with liquid nitrogen cooled microscope stage. The NH2 stretching modes of urea were observed as four bands at 3250, 3321, 3355 and 3425 cm(-1) at 77 K. These four bands are attributed to a change in conformation upon cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature. Upon intercalation of urea into both low and high defect kaolinites, only two bands were observed near 3390 and 3410 cm(-1). This is explained by hydrogen bonding between the amine groups of urea and oxygen atoms of the siloxane layer of kaolinite with only one urea conformation. When the intercalated low defect kaolinite was cooled to 77 K, the bands near 3700 cm(-1) attributed to the stretching modes of the inner surface hydroxyls disappeared and a new band was observed at 3615 cm(-1). This is explained by the breaking of hydrogen bonds involving OH groups of the gibbsite-like layer and formation of new bonds to the C=O group of the intercalated urea. Thus it is suggested that at low temperatures two kinds of hydrogen bonds are formed by urea molecules in urea-intercalated kaolinite.     

Thermo-X-ray-diffraction analysis of dimethylsulfoxide-kaolinite intercalation complexes

DMSO-kaolinite complexes of low- and high-defect Georgia kaolinite (KGa-1 and KGa-2, respectively) were investigated by thermo-XRD-analysis. X-ray patterns showed that DMSO was intercalated in both kaolinites with a d(001)-value of 1.11 nm (type I complex). The samples were gradually heated up to 170°C and diffracted by X-ray at room-temperature. With the rise in temperature, due to the thermal evolution of the guest molecules, the relative intensity of the 1.11 nm peak decreased and that of the 0.72 nm peak (neat kaolinite) increased indicating that the fraction of the non-intercalated tactoids increased. The 1.11 peak disappeared at 130–140°C. During the thermal treatment of both complexes two additional peaks appeared at 110 and 120°C, respectively, with d-values of 0.79–0.94 and 0.61–0.67 nm in DMSO-KGa-1 and 0.81–0.86 and 0.62–0.66 nm in DMSO-KGa-2, indicating the formation of a new phase (type II complex). The new complex was obtained by the dehydration of type I complex and was composed of intercalated DMSO molecules which did not escape. The new peaks disappeared at 150–160°C indicating the complete escape of DMSO.     

Micro-structure differences in kaolinite suspensions

SEM observations of the aqueous suspensions of kaolinite from Birdwood (South Australia) and Georgia (USA) show noticeable differences in number of physical behaviour which has been explained by different micro-structure constitution. Birdwood kaolinite dispersion gels are observed at very low solid loadings in comparison with Georgia KGa-1 kaolinite dispersions which remain fluid at higher solids loading. To explain this behaviour, the specific particle interactions of Birdwood kaolinite, different from interaction in Georgia kaolinite have been proposed. These interactions may be brought about by the presence of nano-bubbles on clay crystal edges and may force clay particles to aggregate by bubble coalescence. This explains the predominance of stair step edge-edge like (EE) contacts in suspension of Birdwood kaolinite. Such EE linked particles build long strings that form a spacious cell structure. Hydrocarbon contamination of colloidal kaolinite particles and low aspect ratio are discussed as possible explanations of this unusual behaviour of Birdwood kaolinite. In Georgia KGa-1 kaolinite dispersions instead of EE contact between platelets displayed in Birdwood kaolinite, most particles have edge-to-face (EF) contacts building a cardhouse structure. Such an arrangement is much less voluminous in comparison with the Birdwood kaolinite cellular honeycomb structure observed previously in smectite aqueous suspensions. Such structural characteristics of KGa-1 kaolinite particles enable higher solid volume fractions pulps to form before significantly networked gel consistency is attained.     

A spectroscopic study of mechanochemically activated kaolinite with the aid of chemometrics

The study of kaolinite surfaces is of industrial importance. In this work we report the application of chemometrics to the study of modified kaolinite surfaces. DRIFT spectra of mechanochemically activated kaolinites (Kiralyhegy, Zettlitz, Szeg, and Birdwood) were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and multicriteria decision making (MCDM) methods, PROMETHEE and GAIA. The clear discrimination of the Kiralyhegy spectral objects on the two PC scores plots (400-800 and 800-2030 cm(-1)) indicated the dominance of quartz. Importantly, no ordering of any spectral objects appeared to be related to grinding time in the PC plots of these spectral regions. Thus, neither the kaolinite nor the quartz, are systematically responsive to grinding time according to the spectral criteria investigated. The third spectral region (2600-3800 cm(-1)OH vibrations), showed apparent systematic ordering of the Kiralyhegy and, to a lesser extent, Zettlitz spectral objects with grinding time. This was attributed to the effect of the natural quartz on the delamination of kaolinite and the accompanying phenomena (i.e., formation of kaolinite spheres and water). With the MCDM methods, it was shown that useful information on the basis of chemical composition, physical properties and grinding time can be obtained. For example, the effects of the minor chemical components (e.g., MgO, K(2)O, etc.) indicated that the Birdwood kaolinite is arguably the most pure one analyzed. In another MCDM experiment, some support was obtained for the apparent trend with grinding time noted in the PC plot of the OH spectral region.     

Raman spectroscopy of potassium acetate-intercalated kaolinites at liquid nitrogen temperature

Raman microscopy has been used to study low and high defect kaolinites and their potassium acetate intercalated complexes at 298 and 77 K. Raman spectroscopy shows significant differences in the spectra of the hydroxyl-stretching region of the two types of kaolinites, which is also reflected in the spectroscopy of the hydroxyl-stretching region of the intercalation complexes. Additional bands to the normally observed kaolinite hydroxyl stretching frequencies are observed for the low and high defect kaolinites at 3605 and 3602 cm(-1) at 298 K. Upon cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature, these bands are observed at 3607 and 3604 cm(-1), thus indicating a weakening of the hydrogen bond formed between the inner surface hydroxyls and the acetate ion. Upon cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature, the frequency of the inner hydroxyls shifted to lower frequencies. Collection of Raman spectra at liquid nitrogen temperature did not give better band separation compared to the room temperature spectra as the bands increased in width and shifted closer together.     

Assessment of the surface areas of silica and clay in acid-leached clay materials using concepts of adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces

Two clays of the areas of Kaélé and Kousseri (extreme North Cameroon) containing mainly smectites and minor amounts of kaolinite were activated with sulfuric acid (1 to 8 N). Crystal-chemical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and chemical analysis, while textural properties were analyzed by step-by-step nitrogen adsorption at 77 K and low-pressure quasi-equilibrium argon adsorption at 77 K. As is generally observed, smectite is more sensitive to acid leaching than kaolinite. As a result of smectite decomposition, amorphous Al-containing silica forms, leading to an increase in the specific surface area of the leached materials. The content of the clay minerals and amorphous silica can be estimated on the basis of changes in the chemical composition of the samples upon acid leaching. As far as adsorption energy distributions derived from low-pressure argon derivative adsorption isotherms are concerned, the main modifications occur when 1 N sulfuric acid is used, due to the replacement of calcium and sodium compensating cations by protons. When higher acid concentrations are used, variations in adsorption energy distribution can be assigned to the presence of amorphous silica. It was possible to model experimental adsorption energy distributions as weighted sums of argon adsorption energy distributions obtained on (i) 1 N samples representing protonated clays and (ii) a silica gel used as a reference aluminous silica. Using such an approach, increasing acid concentration results in an increase in the surface area of silica, whereas the surface area of the remaining clay minerals remains roughly constant.     

The Modification of Hydroxyl Surfaces of Formamide-Intercalated Kaolinites Synthesized by Controlled Rate Thermal Analysis

Controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) technology made possible the separation of adsorbed formamide from intercalated formamide in formamide-intercalated kaolinites. X-ray diffraction shows that the CRTA-treated formamide-intercalated kaolinites remain expanded after CRTA treatment. The Raman spectra of the CRTA-treated formamide-intercalated kaolinites are significantly different from those of the intercalated kaolinites with both intercalated and adsorbed formamide. An intense band is observed at 3629 cm(-1), attributed to the inner surface hydroxyls hydrogen bonded to the formamide. Broad bands are observed at 3600 and 3639 cm(-1) and are attributed to the inner surface hydroxyls, which are hydrogen bonded to the adsorbed water molecules. The hydroxyl stretching band of the inner hydroxyl is readily observed at 3621 cm(-1) in the Raman spectra of the CRTA-treated formamide-intercalated kaolinites. The results of thermal analysis show that the amount of intercalated formamide between the kaolinite layers is independent of the presence of water. The Raman bands of the formamide in the CRTA-treated intercalated kaolinites are readily observed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Investigation of mechanochemically modified kaolinite surfaces by thermoanalytical and spectroscopic methods

The effect of mechanochemical activation (dry grinding), formamide intercalation, and thermal deintercalation on high- and low-defect kaolinite surfaces was studied by thermogravimetry and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These investigations were completed with specific surface area and pore size distribution measurements. The surface acidity of the ground and the ground-and-intercalated kaolinites was probed with ammonia adsorption. The surface area and the pore volume as well as the amount of adsorbed ammonia increased with the rate of mechanochemical activation. At the same time the thermally deintercalated minerals showed increased surface area but decreased pore volume with the time of grinding. Adsorbed ammonia was detected as ammonium ion in the 1400-1500 cm(-1) spectral range.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of formamide-intercalated kaolinites

The vibrational spectroscopy of low and high defect kaolinites fully and partially intercalated with formamide have been determined using a combination of X-ray diffraction, DRIFT and Raman spectroscopy. Expansion of the high defect kaolinite to 10.09 A resulted in a decrease in the peak width of the d(001) peak attributed to a decrease in defect structures upon intercalation. Changes in the defect structures of the low defect kaolinite were observed. Additional infrared bands were observed for the formamide intercalated kaolinites at 3629 and 3606 cm(-1). The 3629 cm(-1) band is attributed to the hydroxyl stretching frequency of the inner surface hydroxyl group hydrogen bonded to the carboxyl group of the formamide. The 3606 cm(-1) band is ascribed to water in the interlayer. Concomitant changes are observed in both the hydroxyl deformation modes and in the carboxyl bands.     

Thermal behavior and immersion heats of selected clays from Turkey

Four clays (two bentonites and two kaolinites) from Turkey were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (DTA/TG-DSC) and surface area measurement techniques. Mineralogically bentonite samples were characterized low concentration of montmorillonite and high level of impurities. Both kaolinite samples mainly contained kaolinite and quartz as major mineral. TG-DTA curves of all clay samples were measured in the temperature range 30–1200 °C. The total % weight losses for the bentonite samples (B1 and B2) and the kaolinite samples (K1 and K2) were determined as 14.50, 13.42, 5.55 and 11.85%, respectively. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) analyses of samples were carried out by heating the samples from 30 to 550 °C. The immersion heats of clay samples were measured using with a Calvet-type C-80 calorimeter. The higher exothermic Q_imm values were determined for bentonite samples compared to kaolinite samples.     

Influence of the particle-size reduction by ultrasound treatment on the dehydroxylation process of kaolinites

Kaolinites from well-known sources (KGa-1 and KGa-2) were used to study the influence of the particle-size reduction on the dehydroxylation process. Size reduction of particles was obtained by ultrasound treatment to avoid the effect of the progressive amorphization of the structure, which takes place with the traditional grinding treatment.The particle-size reduction causes an increase of the mass loss between 140 and 390°C attributed to the loss of the hydroxyl groups exposed on the external surface of kaolinite; a shift to lower temperatures of the endothermic effect related with the mass loss between 390 and 600°C and a shift of the end of dehydroxylation to lower temperatures. The first modification can be explained by an increase of the number of hydroxyls exposed on the external surface of kaolinite which is proportional to the new surface generated in the particle reduction process, whereas the shift of the dehydroxylation to lower temperatures is related to the reduction of the dimensions of the particles which favour the diffusion controlled mechanisms.Comparing between the DTA curves to the TG curves of the studied samples shows that the observed modifications in the thermal properties induced by the particle-size reduction are greater for the low-defect kaolinite. The intensity of these modifications depends on the effectiveness of the ultrasound treatment.The authors are grateful to S. Yariv, I. Lapides and S. Shoval for carefully reviewing this paper and making helpful comments. This research has been supported by Research Project MAT 2002-03774 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and Research Groups FQM-187 and RNM-0199 of the Junta de Andalucia.     

An in situ method for remediating 137Cs-contaminated wetlands using naturally occurring minerals

Cesium's enhanced bioavailability in contaminated wetlands onthe U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) is thoughtto be due to the low clay fraction of SRS soils, and that the clay mineralogyis dominated by kaolinites. Remediation of the wetlands is problematic becausecurrent technologies are destructive to the sensitive ecosystems. We tested11 clay minerals (two micas, a vermiculite, six illites, a kaolinite, anda smectite) for their propensity to sorb and retain ¹³⁷Cs. Twominerals were subsequently chosen as candidates for in situ remediation amendmentmaterials because they had ¹³⁷Cs distribution coefficients (K d) well in excess of 10,000 ml . g –1 , and desorbed less than 20% ofthe Cs when mixed in a 0.1M NH 4 Cl solution. Incremental additions of thecandidate minerals to ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated sediments appreciablyintercepted and retained desorbed ¹³⁷Cs in the presence of highlevels of NH₄ . Implications for using the minerals as a nondestructive,in situ remediation technique are discussed.     

Partitioning of clay colloids at air-water interfaces

Colloid sorption onto air-water interfaces in a variety of natural environments has been previously recognized, but better quantification and understanding is still needed. Affinities of clay colloids for the air-water interface were measured using a bubble-column method and reported as partition coefficients (K). Four types of dilute clay suspensions were measured in NaCl solutions under varying pH and ionic strength conditions: kaolinite KGa-1, illite IMt-2, montmorillonite SWy-2, and bentonite. The K values of three types of polystyrene latex particles with different surface-charge properties were also measured for comparison. Kaolinite exhibited extremely high affinity to the air-water interface at pH values below 7. Illite has lower affinity to air-water interfaces than kaolinite, but has similar pH dependence. Na-montmorillonite and bentonite clay were found excluded from the air-water interface at any given pH and ionic strength. Positively and negatively charged latex particles exhibited sorption and exclusion, respectively, at the air-water interface. These results show the importance of electrostatic interactions between the air-water interface and colloids, especially the influence of pH-dependent edge charges, and influence of particle shape.     

Absolute aggregation rate constants in aggregation of kaolinite measured by simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering

The aggregation rate was determined for the < 0.2 microm size fraction of kaolinite (KGa-2) using simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering at pH 9.5. It was found that method suggested by Holthoff et al. [Langmuir 1996, 12, 5541] is suitable for determination of the absolute aggregation rate constant of a clay dispersion without using the particle optical factors. The determined fast aggregation rate constant is k11,fast = (3.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(-18) m3 s(-1). Stability behavior of kaolinite colloids was studied as a function of concentration of sodium chloride by simultaneous static and dynamic scattering. The critical aggregation concentration was found to be 0.085 +/- 0.005 mol dm(-3). When calculating the relationship between the stability ratio and the electrolyte concentration using the DLVO theory, the best fit to the experimental data was achieved with a Hamaker constant of A = (4.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(-20) J.     

Modification of low- and high-defect kaolinite surfaces: implications for kaolinite mineral processing

A comparison is made of the mechanochemical activation of three low- and one high-defect kaolinite using a combination of X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and DRIFT spectroscopy. The effect of mechanochemical alteration of the kaolinites is greater for the low-defect kaolinites. The effectiveness of the mechanochemical treatment is represented by the slope of the d(001) peakwidth-grinding time line. High-defect kaolinite is not significantly altered by the grinding treatment. The effect of mechanochemical treatment on peakwidth was independent of the presence of quartz; the quartz acts as an additional grinding medium. The effectiveness of the mechanochemical treatment depends on the crystallinity of the kaolinite. Two processes are identified in the mechanochemical activation of the kaolinite: first the delamination of kaolinite appears to take place in the first hour of grinding and second a recombination process results in the reaggregation of the ground crystals. During this process proton hopping occurs and reaction to form water takes place. This water is then adsorbed and coordinated to surface-active sites created during mechanochemical treatment.     

Influence of the structural characteristic of pyrolysis products on thermal stability of styrene-butadiene rubber composites reinforced by different particle sized kaolinites

A series of rubber composites were prepared by blending styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex and the different particle sized kaolinites. The thermal stabilities of the rubber composites were characterized using thermogravimetry, digital photography, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Kaolinite SBR composites showed much greater thermal stability when compared with that of the pure SBR. With the increase of kaolinite particle size, the pyrolysis products became much looser; the char layer and crystalline carbon content gradually decreased in the pyrolysis residues. The pyrolysis residues of the SBR composites filled with the different particle sized kaolinites showed some remarkable changes in structural characteristics. The increase of kaolinite particle size was not beneficial to form the compact and stable crystalline carbon in the pyrolysis process, and resulted in a negative influence in improving the thermal stability of kaolinite/SBR composites.     

Crystallization kinetics of Na7.4(AlSiO4)6(CO3)0.7·4H2O, an intermediate phase between cancrinite and sodalite, grown under low temperature hydrothermal conditions

During low temperature hydrothermal alkaline conversion of kaolinite in the presence of sodium carbonate a disordered phase crystallizes showing structural features between the sodalite and cancrinite minerals. A detailed study of its formation field and the kinetics of crystallization is the first step for further investigations of this zeolite-like material. The crystallization kinetics was investigated in the early stage of the reaction for times up to 192 h at a temperature of 353 K. Besides X-ray powder diffraction²⁷Al MAS NMR has been found to be the preferred method to follow the reaction kinetics because a signal assigned to six-coordinated aluminium of the starting kaolinite can be clearly distinguished from a second resonance, being typical for aluminium in four-coordinate position of an aluminosilicate framework structure. Important conclusions can also be drawn from the experiments for the synthesis of ideal ordered cancrinites.