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Influence of Calcium and Sodium Concentration on the Microstructure of Bentonite and Kaolin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Janusz Stawiński ,
Jacek Wierzchoś  and
Maria Teresa Garoa-Gonzalez
Janusz Stawiński
Affiliation:
Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, 20236, Lublin, ul.Doświadczalna 4, Poland
Jacek Wierzchoś
Affiliation:
Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, 20236, Lublin, ul.Doświadczalna 4, Poland
Maria Teresa Garoa-Gonzalez
Affiliation:
Instituto de Edafologia y Biologia Vegetal, Madrid 6, c/Serrano 115 bis, Spain
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Abstract

The influence of added sodium and calcium nitrate electrolyte on the particle aggregates in the colloid fraction of natural bentonite and kaolin was studied. Clays were flocculated in distilled water and various electrolyte concentrations. Aggregate size was studied by sedimentation analysis; the mean radius of the aggregates was plotted against the concentrations of Na+ and Ca2+. For bentonite, the mean radii decreased with an increase of Na+ and Ca2+ concentration, reaching a minimum; and further increases in concentration led to an increase of the mean radii of the aggregates. For kaolin, an increase in Na+ and Ca2+ concentration gave rise to an increase in the mean radii of aggregates.

Scanning electron micrographs showed different types of aggregates, depending on the physico-chemical conditions of a sedimentation process. In bentonite and kaolin sediments formed from a distilled water slurry, the dominant aggregate was an edge-face type. The small addition of salts to a bentonite slurry led to the formation of edge-edge-type aggregates; for kaolin edge-face-type aggregates formed, although within the microaggregate face-face associations were observed. The highest concentrations of electrolytes for sediments of both clays led to formation of compact, face-face-type aggregates.

Keywords

AggregationBentoniteElectrolyteFlocculationKaolinScanning electron microscopy
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 38 , Issue 6 , December 1990 , pp. 617 - 622
Copyright
Copyright © 1990, The Clay Minerals Society

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