Drinking-water supply remains a significant challenge in tropical areas; to help meet this challenge, the purpose of the present study was to manufacture low-thermal conductivity ceramic membranes suitable for the retention/removal of particles found in non-potable water. These membranes with significant chemical and mechanical resistances were developed from Cameroonian clays, cassava starch, and

As a photocatalyst with good prospects, TiO2 has the shortcomings of easy agglomeration and no catalytic performance under visible light. The purpose of the present study was to help solve these problems by employing muscovite as a carrier for N-doped TiO2 in a nanocomposite. The nanocomposites were prepared by a liquid precipitation-grinding method using muscovite as the matrix and urea as the nitrogen

Varved clay deposits from ice-dammed lakes are a particularly important and broadly applied raw material used for the production of high-quality ceramics (red bricks, roof tiles, etc.), but the mineralogy and geochemistry of these sediments are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of ice-dammed lake sediments of the Lębork deposit

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42860-020-00082-w

Loess is a large-scale deposit which is easy to mine and widely distributed on the epipedon. The clay fraction of loess, also known as ‘loessial clay’, is a very important component of loess which affects its properties and performance. From a ‘materials’ perspective, the clay fraction of loess has been ignored. Recently, loess particles have attracted interest because of their potential applications

Polymer–filler interactions play a major role in determining the antibacterial activity of organoclay in nanocomposites. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of polymer type on the antibacterial properties of an organically modified clay – cloisite 10A (C10A) – using poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) polymeric systems. Nanocomposite characterization using

Mesoporous materials have a wide range of applications in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and medicine, but historically, the resource materials used for their synthesis have been expensive. Natural silicate minerals are characterized by their abundance, low cost, and large SiO2 contents, making them an alternative silicon source for mesoporous silica. The objective

Ion-exchange modeling is used widely to describe and predict ion-adsorption data on clay minerals. Although the model parameters are usually optimized by curve fitting experimental data, this approach does not confirm the identity of the adsorption sites. The purpose of the present study was to extend to divalent cations a previous study on the retention of monovalent cations on Na-saturated montmorillonite

Soil salinity is one of the most critical environmental stresses that affects crop productivity. In a context in which world demand for food is growing continuously, this problem requires urgent attention. Actions that go beyond traditional agricultural practices are needed. The objective of the current study was to develop a bioactive, economic, and sustainable compound that can increase the tolerance

Recent measurements from Mars document X-ray amorphous/nano-crystalline materials in multiple locations across the planet. Despite their prevalence, however, little is known about these materials or what their presence implies for the history of Mars. The X-ray amorphous component of the martian soil in Gale crater has an X-ray diffraction pattern that can be fit partially with allophane (approximately

The thermal stability of bentonite is vitally important for its application in the casting field and the layer charge of montmorillonite (Qm) is one of its central crystal-chemical parameters. As the main component of bentonite, the influence of Qm on montmorillonite properties and behavior needs to be considered if bentonite is to be used in high-temperature environments. The objective of the current

Antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) have been regarded as emerging contaminants that threaten public health worldwide. Poultry excreta, often used as a fertilizer in agriculture, are a major route for the proliferation and dissemination of ARGs in the environment. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential of dietary palygorskite (Plg) supplementation as nutritional manipulation for the

Semiconductor photocatalysis has been regarded as one of the most promising methods for treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater, but the high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers and photocorrosion have limited severely its practical application. The objective of the current study was to employ a layered double hydroxide (LDH) to mitigate these problems by designing and constructing a multiple

Edible clays are consumed by diverse groups of people, especially of African descent, living in Africa and abroad, in a behavior known as geophagy. The clays are used topically as an emollient and drying agent and internally to control diarrhea. Scientific information concerning the chemical constituents and toxicity of edible clays is scarce. The aims of the present study, therefore, were to ascertain

Among all iron oxides, hematite (α-Fe2O3), goethite (α-FeOOH), and ferrihydrite (FeOOH⋅nH2O) are the most common mineral species. While immobilization of Mo6+ by surface adsorption on ferric oxides has been studied extensively, the mechanisms of incorporation in their structure have been researched little. The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between Mo content and its structural

Water is essential for humans, animals, and plants; pollutants, usually derived from anthropogenic activities, can have a serious effect on its quality. Heavy metals are significant pollutants and are often highly toxic to living organisms, even at very low concentrations. Among the numerous removal techniques proposed, adsorption onto suitable adsorbent materials is considered to be one of the most

The poor environmental stability of natural anthocyanin hinders its usefulness in various functional applications. The objectives of the present study were to enhance the environmental stability of anthocyanin extracted from Lycium ruthenicum by mixing it with montmorillonite to form an organic/inorganic hybrid pigment, and then to synthesize allochroic biodegradable composite films by incorporating

The hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a promising reaction with a possible practical application as a means of generating hydrogen. The efficiency of hydrogen production can be enhanced significantly by use of a catalyst during the reaction. Cobalt borides show significant catalytic activity, but unsupported CoB particles aggregate easily and are difficult to separate from the reaction medium

Gray-black kaolinitic claystones of industrial value are abundant in Upper Carboniferous–Lower Permian coal-bearing strata of the Datong Coalfield of northern China. The main types are tonsteins and cryptocrystalline kaolinitic claystones, distinguished by the thinness and greater crystallinity of kaolinite in the former and by the presence of detrital illite and authigenic pyrite in the latter. In

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have attracted much attention as delivery carriers for various drugs, but the loading of one such drug, quercetin, on HNTs has been investigated only rarely and usually involved cyclic vacuum pumping. The main objective of the present study was to develop a novel carrier system based on HNTs for quercetin delivery without a vacuum process and to investigate the effect of

Bentonite is used as a catalyst in the removal of olefins from aromatic compounds and the present study was designed to investigate how its performance might be improved by various treatments. Bentonite from Semnan mine, Iran, was used in the study following initial characterization. In order to investigate the effect of acid and thermal treatments on the removal of olefins from aromatic compounds

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) is found consistently to be the most accurate analytical technique for quantitative analysis of clay-bearing mixtures based on results from round-robin competitions such as the Reynolds Cup (RC). A range of computationally intensive approaches can be used to quantify phase concentrations from XRPD data, of which the ‘full-pattern summation of prior measured standards’

Knowledge of clay mineralogy is essential for understanding the source areas and weathering environments of fluvial sediments, particularly in large reservoirs facing serious problems with sediment deposition, such as the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in east-central China. The purpose of the present study was to identify the sediment provenances and weathering regimes contributing to the sediment load

Palygorskite-rich mudstone interbedded with gypsum occurs in the Neogene Baiyanghe Formation in the Yangtaiwatan basin, northwest China, but the genesis of palygorskite in the mudstone is unclear. The objective of the present study was to clarify the manner by which the palygorskite evolved by analyzing the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the mudstone. The mineralogical composition

In the absence of the necessary valley topography, karst depressions are sometimes used to construct conventional impoundments in order to contain tailings. Leakage is a primary concern for such impoundments. The purpose of the current study was to determine the characteristics and barrier performance of laterite mantling karst depressions, using, as an example, the Wujiwatang (WJWT) tailings impoundment

Hydrothermal alteration led to development of the Yarıkçı clay deposit within the Mesozoic chlorite-, muscovite-, chlorite-muscovite-schist, and garnet-graphite phyllite units along NW–SE- and N–S-trending faults in Mihalıççık in western central Anatolia. The geological, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics and genesis of this economically important clay deposit have not been examined in

Injured bone tissues can be healed with bone grafts, but this procedure may cause intense pain to the patient. A slow and localized delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could help to reduce the pain without affecting bone regeneration. The objective of the present study was to use [Mg-Al]-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a matrix for controlled release of sodium naproxen (NAP)

The stability, dispersion, and rheological properties of clay suspensions are important in the process of drilling. Organic clays were obtained traditionally by cation exchange, which is thermally unstable due to weak electrostatic interaction between the cationic surfactant and clay minerals. The purpose of the present study was to yield a stable and well dispersed organic bentonite (OBent) as a rheological

The present study provides an example of the accurate identification of polytypes of trioctahedral 1:1 layered silicates from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected with the aid of a four-circle diffractometer equipped with an area detector. Single crystals of the mineral cronstedtite from the Nagybörzsöny gold ore deposit, northern Hungary, were studied. The chemical composition of some crystals

Titanium dioxide (TiO2, rutile) nanoparticles, inorganic ultraviolet absorbers, are used extensively in sunscreen cosmetics as an inorganic ultraviolet (UV) absorber to prevent skin damage; because of their nanotoxicity, use in combination with a support, such as montmorillonite (Mnt), rather than alone, is suggested. Mnt-supported TiO2 composites (Mnt-TiO2) for sunscreens are most suitable when the

The dispersive behavior dynamics of clay determine soil characteristics such as permeability and aggregate stability, and, consequently, crop productivity. Soil dispersion is heavily influenced by the ionicity of clay–cation bonds and has been shown to be related to the net negative charge and pH of the system. Little work has been done, however, which considers these factors together, especially for

Several procedures for hydrothermal synthesis of saponite can be found in the literature. They differ in terms of the preparation conditions of the precursor and of the synthesis temperature. The objective of the present study was to investigate how these two parameters influence the structure of the final synthesis product. The precursor was prepared from Mg(NO3)2, Al(NO3)3, and Na4SiO4 in three different

The harm caused by mine tailings has become increasingly problematic in recent years, so efforts are needed to dispose of or reutilize them in environmentally friendly ways. The objective of the present study was to find out if the hydration properties of muscovite contained in mine tailings are suitable for it to be used as a pozzolan in cement, after undergoing mechanical activation. Aqueous suspensions

Loess is a collapsible soil; when it collapses, it can cause significant damage to structures built on it. Improvement in the stability and strength performance of loess is necessary to meet engineering needs. In the present study, the effects on the physical-chemical and rheological characteristics of Ghardaïa loess of adding bentonite and lime (southern Algeria) were examined. Rheological characterization

Geopolymers have the potential to function as an environmentally friendly substitute for ordinary Portland cement, with up to 80% less CO2 emission during production. The effect is best utilized for geopolymers prepared with amorphous silica instead of waterglass (Na2xSiyO2y+x) to adjust the Si:Al ratio. The reactivity of the precursors with the alkaline activator affects the final mineralogical properties

Because they are so widespread, the use of saponites is significant in many industries. The modification of saponite-rich clay minerals is known to improve their existing characteristics and may provide new functional properties. The objective of the present paper was to characterize the effects of adding nanosized graphene-like molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) sulfides on the textural and surface

Conventional superplasticizers based on polycarboxylate ether (PCE) show an intolerance to clay minerals due to intercalation of their polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains into the interlayers of the clay mineral. An intolerance to very basic media is also known. This makes PCE an unsuitable choice as a superplasticizer for geopolymers. Bio-based superplasticizers derived from starch showed comparable

Ion-exchange modeling is one of the most widely used methods to predict ion adsorption data on clay minerals. The model parameters (e.g. number of adsorption sites and the cation adsorption capacity of each site) are optimized normally by curve fitting experimental data, which does not definitively identify the local environment of the adsorption sites. A new approach for constructing an ion-exchange

A lustrous appearance and interference-based colors make pearlescent pigments attractive for use in applications such as automotive paints, plastics, consumer electronics, and cosmetics. A combination of interference and absorption in the visible light spectrum improves significantly the hiding power as well as the color strength of pearlescent pigments while potentially extending their color range

Alkaline solutions have significant effects on the mineral composition and on the microstructure of bentonite; in relevant geoenvironmental engineering applications, therefore, the properties of bentonite buffer materials must be taken into consideration in the presence of alkaline solutions. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of alkaline conditions on the swelling of bentonite

The conversion of CO2 into carbon feedstock via CO2 hydrogenation to methane requires a stable catalyst for reaction at high temperatures. Zeolite NaY (abbreviated hereafter as NaY) synthesized from naturally occurring kaolin provides a stable support for Ni nanoparticles. Kaolin can be further dealuminated using sulfuric acid to reduce the Si/Al ratio, but the presence of the remaining sulfur is detrimental

K-Ar isotopic dating has been applied to alkali-rich nanometer-sized illite separates of bentonites since the late 1990s. In the present study, K-Ar and Rb-Sr isotopic analyses were based on mineralogical determinations and morphological observations of similarly nm-sized separates (<0.02, 0.02–0.05, and 0.05–0.1 μm) depleted in alkalis and recovered from Santonian (85.8–83.5 Ma) bentonites of the

The present study considered the problem of halloysite nanoscroll synthesis by energy modeling of the formation of chrysotile and halloysite particles. The main aim of the study was to reveal an energy preference between scrolled and platy morphologies of the particles. Both hydrosilicates possess the ability to scroll spontaneously but relatively facile hydrothermal synthesis of the nanoscrolls is

Çayırbağı magnesite is one of numerous magnesite deposits occurring throughout Turkey. In this deposit, sepiolite and newly found stevensite occur locally as two daughter minerals formed from magnesite. The sepiolite and stevensite show distinctive compositions and modes of formation compared to those described in the literature. The objective of the current study was to characterize these minerals

The formation conditions and stability fields of Fe-serpentines are still poorly understood in both terrestrial (natural or anthropic) and extraterrestrial environments. Knowledge of the effects of physical-chemical parameters on compositional and structural features of Fe-serpentines is lacking, and only a few thermodynamic parameters of these minerals are available in the literature. To fill these

Soil–alkali interaction leads to abnormal soil behavior due to significant changes in mineralogy and morphology. The effect of alkali on the swelling behavior of natural clays has been explored in recent years, but the swelling behavior of alkali-transformed clay minerals is still unclear. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of alkali concentration on swelling characteristics

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting compound, is of concern because of its wide presence throughout the environment and its harmful effects. The present study aimed to prepare an eco-friendly, low-cost, and efficient adsorbent for removal of BPA from wastewater. A natural Tunisian clay was used as a raw material. First, the clay was purified and then modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium

Kaolins and clays are important raw materials for production of supplementary cementitious materials and geopolymer precursors through thermal activation by calcination beyond dehydroxylation (DHX). Both types of clay contain different polytypes and disordered structures of kaolinite but little is known about the impact of the layer stacking of dioctahedral 1:1 layer silicates on optimum thermal activation

The negative effects of dye-contaminated wastewater on humans and the environment are well known, so the wastewater must be treated carefully before discharge into the environment. To overcome those impacts, the search for environmentally friendly and low-cost materials is essential, especially in developing countries The objective of the present study was to determine the feasibility of using bauxite

Hydrocalumite (HC) is a type of synthetic layered double hydroxide (LDH) that has many important industrial uses and is commonly synthesized by a co-precipitation method in a water:ethanol (2:3) mixture; however, atmospheric carbon dioxide interferes with the synthesis by decreasing the solubility of other gases in the reaction medium. The aim of the present study was to vary the temperature and aging

Because long-term leachate migration through a hydraulic barrier is inevitable, compacted clay and cementitious liners are commonly used as ‘active-passive’ liners to attenuate percolated leachate. The scarcity of suitable clay and because of the CO2 emitted during the production of Portland cement as well as drying shrinkage, flow rate due to consolidation, limited attenuation capacity, and chemical

Dioctahedral micas are composed of two tetrahedral sheets and one octahedral sheet to form TOT or 2:1 layers. These minerals are widespread and occur with structures differing by (1) the layer stacking mode (polytypes), (2) the location of vacancies among non-equivalent octahedral sites (polymorphs), and (3) the charge-compensating interlayer cation and isomorphic substitutions. The purpose of the

Enzymes adsorbed on clay minerals and soil colloids may exhibit lower activities compared to those of free enzymes. A particular toxic metal may affect the activity of the adsorbed enzyme less critically than that of the free form, however. This information is necessary for predicting catalytic performances of clay-immobilized enzymes in natural soils as well as in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical

The removal of pesticide contaminants from water is a key priority in environmental remediation, and requires intensive effort; this necessitates modification of the properties of pillared clays (PILCs) such as porosity, pore-volume, surface area, and synthesis methods. The purpose of the present study was to test the ability of Al-pillared bentonite (Al-PILB), using [Al13O4(OH)24(H2O)12]7+ and [A

Heavy metals in the environment are a problem due to their toxicity and bioaccumulation. Adsorptive removal of heavy metals by clay minerals has garnered increasing attention due to the abundance, low cost, and exceptional physicochemical properties of the clays. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the utilization of two Turkish sepiolite samples, nodular sepiolite (NS) and industrial

Highly weathered soils of the humid tropics generally provide a poor mineral reserve of potassium (K), but evidence has been found which indicates that even in such soils non-exchangeable forms of K can be made plant available and this warrants further investigation. The objective of this study was, therefore, to determine the extent to which K can be released from poorly available reserves over a

Fire resistance performance is one of the most important requirements in geological storage conditions in order to improve the resistance of storage packages to high thermal constraints (in the case of a fire for example). With the need to develop new fire-resistant materials, the aim of the present study was to develop fire-resistant geopolymer binders based on Callovo-Oxfordian (COx) argillite. Two

Despite the numerous studies on geomaterials in Tunisia, quite a few clay varieties are not yet well defined. In fact no detailed geological, mineralogical, or geochemical characterizations of Tunisian palygorskite deposits have been carried out to date. The purpose of the present work was to study the continental Eocene clay deposit at the southern end of the Tunisian North axis, between Jebel Rheouis

Purification of raw bentonites and organo-bentonite preparations is sometimes required for industrial use. Zeta (electrokinetic) potential (ζ), contact angle (wettability/hydrophobicity), and surface free energy (SFE) are important surface characteristics and vary significantly according to the applied surfactant concentration when preparing organo-bentonite. Changes in these characteristics determine