Hydrogels in aqueous phases of polyvinylalcohol (PVA), surfactants and clay minerals

Aqueous solutions of synthetic clay minerals have been studied in the presence of surfactants and water-soluble polyvinylalcohol (PVA). The PVAs (PVA 1, PVA 2) had a molecular weight of about 10⁵ Dalton and a degree of hydrolysis of 82%. The PVA-samples were surface active and lowered the surface tension to 43 mN/m. As a consequence of their amphiphilic nature the PVA molecules bind strongly to clay mineral particles. On saturation the clay mineral particles adsorb the fivefold weight of PVA of their own weight. It is concluded that the thickness of the adsorbed layers on both sides of the clay mineral is in the range of the hydrodynamic diameter of the PVA-coils in the bulk phase.When the clay mineral particles are not saturated with PVA, they act as cross-linking agents for the PVA. The whole systems are physically cross-linked and assume gel-like properties. Rheological measurements show that samples behave like soft matter with a yield stress value. All of them have a frequency independent storage modulus which is an order of magnitude larger than the loss modulus. The hydrogels become stronger as PVA concentration increases.Small amounts of cationic surfactants bind on the clay mineral. The interface of the clay mineral becomes more hydrophobic and the binding of the PVA on the clay mineral is strengthened. With rising concentration of the surfactant the surfactant molecules bind on PVA and the PVA becomes hydrophilic. As a consequence the PVA can no longer bind on the clay mineral and the gels transform to viscous and turbid solutions. Small amounts of cationic surfactants therefore stiffen the hydrogels while larger amounts cause phase separation and a solution with low viscosity. Anionic surfactants like SDS do not bind on the clay mineral, but strongly on the PVA. With increasing SDS concentration, the hydrogels become stiffer at first but thereafter they break and transform to viscous fluids.In PVA-solutions without the clay minerals both cationic and anionic surfactants bind to the PVAs in the aqueous solution. With increasing concentration of surfactant, the viscosities of the solutions pass over a maximum. In this respect the PVAs behave like hydrophobically modified water soluble polymers. The surfactants bind to the hydrophobic microdomain and thereby crosslink the polymer molecules. On saturation the polyvinyl alcohol with anionic surfactant become hydrophilic and the network character disappears to a certain extent.     

The effect of the exchangeable metallic cation on the colloid properties of laponite treated with acridine orangea spectrophotometric study

The adsorption of the cationic dye acridine orange (AO) by different monoionic laponites leads to changes in the colloid properties of this synthetic mineral in aqueous solutions. The organic cation is adsorbed by the mechanism of cation exchange. Small amounts of adsorbed dye keep the clay in a peptized state with all metallic cations. Greater amounts of AO result in the neutralization of the electric charge of the clay, and its flocculation. In excess AO the charge of the clay platelets becomes positive and the clay is peptized. The colloid properties are studied by absorbance curves in which the absorbance is described as a function of the degree of saturation with constant clay concentrations or with constant dye concentrations. In the absorbance curves three regions can be identified. The transition between the first and second or the second and third regions depend on the exchangeable metallic cation initially present in the clay. The spectrophotometric method is useful in identifying the presence of tactoids and flocculation mechanism, whether it results in card-house or in book-house flocs.     

[Hg3]4+ Cation in Inorganic Crystal Structures

The crystal-chemical structure of the minerals and inorganic compounds kuznetsovite [Hg₃](AsO₄)Cl and terlinguaite [Hg₃][HgO₂]Cl₂, as well as [Hg₃]₃(AsO₄)₄ and [Hg₃]₂[HgO₂](PO₂ and their analogs, is considered from the viewpoint of the packing of large supramolecular atomic groups. The cationic layer of polyhedra around the large [Hg₃]⁴⁺ cations, alternating with the anionic layer of [HgO₂]^2-, (AsO₄)^3-, (PO₄)^3-, Cl^-, plays the major role in structure formation. Segregation of mercury cations of different valences possibly reflects the solid-state transformations occurring in nature and accompanied by mercury liberation.     

几种非金属矿物对硫化氢吸附性能的研究

某些非金属矿物具有吸附性[1 5]。本文测试了硅藻土、浮岩、沸石和麦饭石等非金属矿物的主要理化性能,研究了上述矿物在不同条件下对硫化氢的吸附性能,探讨了吸附剂粒度、用量、吸附时间和温度对吸附率的影响及吸附机理。在适当的条件下,各种材料对硫化氢的吸附率均能达到90%;吸附能力依次为硅藻土>麦饭石>沸石>浮岩。1　实验部分1 1　材料和试剂采集原矿标本硅藻土(抚松露水河)、浮岩(长白山天池)、麦饭石(长白山遥林)、斜发沸石(长春市净月潭),经粗选、粉碎、制备成不同粒径的吸附剂。X荧光光谱仪(PW140/10型,荷兰)和等离子直读光谱…     

Electrodeposition of mercury film on electrodes modified with clay minerals

A new type of carbon paste electrode modified with clay mineral and covered with a mercury film is presented in this work. Electrodeposition of the mercury film was performed on the carbon paste electrode modified with montmorillonite. The mercury film was deposited by both electrodeposition in situ and a preliminary electrodeposition. The pre-deposited film of mercury showed to be suitable for anodic stripping voltammetry. An open-circuit sorption of Cd, Pb, and Cu with subsequent anodic stripping voltammetry exhibited higher current responses of metals. Besides the enhanced sensitivity superior separation of the current responses during a simultaneous stripping of metals is expected to be achieved by means of the newly prepared electrode. Presented at the 57th Congress of Chemical Societies, Tatranské Matliare, 4–8 September 2005.     

Intercalation and exchange reactions of clay minerals and non-clay layer compounds

Presently, a large variety of layered materials are synthesized that are able to intercalate neutral guest molecules or to exchange inorganic and organic ions for interlayer ions. Several of these materials are also found as minerals.The intracrystalline reactivity of a few selected compounds will be described and compared to clay minerals:

The Selection of the Optimal Impregnation Conditions of Vegetable Matrices with Iodine

This study aimed to determine the use of selected vegetables (pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot) as carriers of potassium iodide (KI) and potassium iodate (KIO₃) by determining changes in iodine content under various conditions of impregnation as the degree of hydration, impregnated sample temperature, and impregnation time. The influence of these conditions on iodine contents in vegetables after their fortification and storage (21 °C/230 days) was analyzed. The results showed that all selected vegetables could be efficient iodine carriers. However, the conditions of the impregnation process are crucial for fortification efficiency, particularly the degree of hydration and the temperature of the impregnated samples before drying. The results showed that the lowest iodine content was in samples fortified at 4 °C and 1:4 hydration. On the other hand, the highest reproducibility of iodine was for the following fortification conditions: temperature of −76 °C and hydration of 1:1. The studies confirmed the higher stability of iodine in KIO₃ form compared to KI. To increase recovery of the introduced iodine in the product after drying, using the conditioning step at 4 °C is not recommended. We recommend freezing vegetables immediately after the impregnation process     

Calcium-based hydrated minerals: Promising halogen-free flame retardant and fire resistant additives for polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers

In this study, we evaluated the potential flame retardant effect of calcium-based hydrated minerals, such as hydrated lime, partially and completely hydrated dolomitic limes in polyethylene (MDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and compared to that obtained with magnesium di-hydroxide (MDH). The most significant flame retardant effects, observed using the mass loss calorimeter test, indicated that Ca-based MDPE composites showed similar peak Heat Release Rate (pHRR) level to that obtained with MDH composite while the pHRR was lower for Ca-based fillers in EVA compositions. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data, combined with thermal analysis results, indicated that the calcium di-hydroxide plays a role in the formation of an intumescent cohesive residue during the combustion. Indeed, Ca(OH)₂ reacts with CO₂ formed during the thermal degradation of the polymer to generate CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate) that contributes to the enhancement of the mechanical resistance of the residue.     

Evolution and properties of antiphase boundaries in silicate minerals

Experimental and observational evidence is reviewed for the mechanisms and kinetics of antiphase domain coarsening in silicate minerals. The expected rate law has the form (domain size)ⁿ ≈ annealing time, but the ideal value of n=2 has been observed in only one of three cases. Values of n≈8 or 10 are interpreted as implying adsorption of impurity atoms onto the antiphase boundaries. Diffusion of these impurities can then provide the rate determining step for boundary migration. Local ordering at the boundaries can also provide some stabilising influence, though this does not appear to affect the coarsening rate law. If the stabilisation is sufficient it might result in the development of an incommensurate superstructure, either as a stable phase or as a metastable phase under non-equilibrium conditions. The effective width of these boundaries appears to be ～ 25°, or approximately two unit cells, and their maximum effective interaction length appears to be ～ 4 times this width.     

Conflict minerals (3TG): Mining production,applications and recycling

The growing public awareness of conflict minerals used in consumer electronics and various other devices (e.g. GPS in vehicles, medical equipment, airplane equipment and instruments, etc.) is accompanied by increasing regulatory obligations for companies affected by different laws and certification standards e.g. Dodd Frank Act section 1502, the ICGLR Regional Certification, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance or the planned EU Certification regulation.The so called conflicts minerals are natural mineral resources such as tin, tantalum, tungsten and Gold (3TG) that are critical resources for the electronic and automotive industries but also for other industries (aviation, medical equipment, etc.).Extraction of the 3TGs is widespread and includes primary industrial mining and artisanal mining as well as recycling.