Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-tbj44 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-30T05:41:31.917Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Kaolinite and its Formation Mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Kyoung-Won Ryu ,
Young-Nam Jang  and
Soo-Chun Chae
Kyoung-Won Ryu
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
Young-Nam Jang*
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
Soo-Chun Chae
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: crystal@kigam.re.kr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In spite of many studies of kaolinite synthesis, questions remain as to the transformation of gel into kaolinite, the kinetics of the reaction, and the influence of solution chemistry. The purpose of the present study was to perform a hydrothermal synthesis in order to understand better the transformation from boehmite to kaolinite. Kaolinite was synthesized from amorphous SiO2 and Al(OH)3·xH2O at fixed temperature (250°C) and pressure (30 bar). The initial pH of the solution was 2. The reaction time for the synthesis was varied from 2 to 36 h. The physical properties of synthesized kaolinite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, field-emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS).

The early stage of kaolinite synthesis followed activation of amorphous Al(OH)3·xH2O to initiate the reactions, i.e. ionization and subsequent crystallization of boehmite. The boehmite reacted continuously with Si4+ dissolved in solution and gradually transformed to disordered, lath-shaped boehmite. In XRD and IR patterns, the typical peaks of boehmite were weakened or disappeared following the reaction.

Structural transformation from boehmite to kaolinite occurred when the Al/Si ratio of the aluminosilicate was 1.0. The kaolinite formed was in the form of curved flakes and its crystallinity increased with reaction time. In the final stage of reaction the morphology of kaolinite changed from flaky to polygonal. The hexagonal, platy kaolinite was therefore developed to allow the gradual variation of the chemical composition, crystal structure, and morphology.

Keywords

BoehmiteHexagonalKaoliniteSynthesisTransformation

Information

Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 44 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Brindly, G.W. Santos, P.S. and Santos, H.S., 1963 Mineralogical studies of kaolinite-halloysite clays: Part I, Identification problems American Mineralogist 48 897–910.Google Scholar
Eberl, D.D. and Hower, J., 1975 Kaolinite synthesis; the role of the SiAl and (alkali)/(H+) ratio in hydrothermal systems Clays and Clay Minerals 23 301–309 10.1346/CCMN.1975.0230406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, V.C., 1974 The Infrared Spectra of Minerals London Mineralogical Society 10.1180/mono-4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fialips, C.I. Petit, S. Decarreau, A. and Beaufort, D., 2000 Influence of synthesis pH on kaolinite crystallinity and surface properties Clays and Clay Minerals 48 173–184 10.1346/CCMN.2000.0480203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fiore, S. Huertas, F.J. Huertas, F. and Linares, J., 1995 Morphology of kaolinite crystals synthesized under hydrothermal conditions Clays and Clay Minerals 43 353–360 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huertas, F.J. Huertas, F. and Linares, J., 1993 Hydrothermal synthesis of kaolinite: method and characterization of synthetic materials Applied Clay Science 7 345–356 10.1016/0169-1317(93)90001-H.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huertas, F.J. Fiore, S. Huertas, F. and Linares, J., 1999 Experimental study of the hydrothermal formation of kaolinite Chemical Geology 156 171–190 10.1016/S0009-2541(98)00180-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huertas, F.J. Fiore, S. and Linares, J., 2004 In-situ transformation of amorphose gel into spherical aggregates of kaolinite: a TEM study Clay Minerals 39 423–431 10.1180/0009855043940144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirkpatrick, R.J. and Phillips, B.L., 1993 27Al NMR spectroscopy of minerals and related materials Applied Magnetic Resonance 4 213–236 10.1007/BF03162565.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kittrick, J.A., 1966 The free energy of formation of gibbsite and Al(OH)4− from solubility measurements Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 30 595–598 10.2136/sssaj1966.03615995003000050018x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
La Iglesia, A. and Martin Vivaldi, J.L., 1972 A contribution to the synthesis of kaolinite Proceedings of the International Clay Conference, Madrid 173–185.Google Scholar
La Iglesisa, A. and Martin-Vivaldi, J.L., 1975 Synthesis of kaolinite by homogeneous precipitation at room temperature: I. Use of anionic resin in (OH) form Clay Minerals 10 399–405 10.1180/claymin.1975.010.5.06.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
La Iglesia, A. Martin-Vivaldi, J.L. and Lopez-Aguayo, F. Jr, 1976 Kaolinite crystallization at room temperature by homogeneous precipitation: III. Hydrolysis of feldspars Clays and Clay Minerals 24 36–42 10.1346/CCMN.1976.0240104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, B., 1966 Principles of Geochemistry 3rd edition New York John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 164–167.Google Scholar
Nagy, K.L., White, A.F. and Brantley, S.L., 1995 Dissolution and precipitation kinetics of sheet silicates Chemical Weathering Rates of Silicate Minerals Washington, D.C. Mineralogical Society of America 173–233 10.1515/9781501509650-007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rayner, J.H., 1962 An examination of the rate of formation of kaolinite from a coprecipitated silica gel Colloque sur la Gènese et al Synthèse des Argilles 123–127.Google Scholar
Robins, R.G., 1967 Hydrothermal precipitation in solutions of thorium nitrate, ferric nitrate and aluminium nitrate Journal of Inorganic Nuclear Chemistry 29 431–435 10.1016/0022-1902(67)80047-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rusell, J.D. and Wilson, M.J., 1987 Infrared methods A Handbook of Determinative Methods in Clay Mineralogy London Chapman & Hall 133–172.Google Scholar
Ryu, K.W. Jang, Y.N. Chae, S.C. Bae, I.K. and Lee, S.K., 2008 The characterization of kaolinite synthesized according to the pH Korea Society of Economic and Environmental Geology 41 165–172.Google Scholar
Satokawa, S. Osaki, Y. Samejima, S. Miyawaki, R. Tomura, S. Shibasaki, Y. and Sugahara, Y., 1994 Effects of the structure of silica-alumina gel on the hydrothermal synthesis of kaolinite Clays and Clay Minerals 42 288–297 10.1346/CCMN.1994.0420307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Satokawa, S. Miyawaki, R. Osaki, Y. Tomura, S. and Shibasaki, Y., 1996 Effects of acidity on the hydrothermal synthesis of kaolinite from silica-gel and gibbsite Clays and Clay Minerals 44 417–423 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slade, R.C.T. and Davies, T.W., 1989 The mechanism of kaolinite dehydroxylation followed by high resolution 27Al NMR and 29Si NMR Colloids and Surfaces 36 119–125 10.1016/0166-6622(89)80231-8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Small, J.S., 1993 Experimental determination of the rates of precipitation of authigenic illite and kaolinite in the presence of aqueous oxalate and comparison to the K/Ar ages of authigenic illite in reservoir sandstones Clays and Clay Minerals 41 191–208 10.1346/CCMN.1993.0410208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Small, J.S. Hamilton, D.L. and Habesch, S., 1992 Experimental simulation of clay precipitation within reservoir sandstones: 1. Techniques and examples Journal Of Sedimentary Petrology 62 508–519 10.2110/jsr.62.520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stiffert, B. and Wey, R., 1972 Contribution a la connaissance de lasynthese des kaolins Proceeding of International Clay Conference, Madrid 159–172.Google Scholar
Tomura, S. Shibasaki, Y. Mizuta, H. and Kitamura, M., 1985 Growth conditions and genesis of spherical and platy kaolinite Clays and Clay Minerals 33 200–206 10.1346/CCMN.1985.0330305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van der Marel, H.W. and Beutelspacher, H., 1976 Atlas of Infrared Spectroscopy of Clay Minerals and their Admixtures Amsterdam Elsevier.Google Scholar
Zhang, X.R. and Xu, Z., 2007 The effect of microwave on preparation of kaolinite/dimethylsulfoxide composite during intercalation process Materials Letters 61 1478–1482 10.1016/j.matlet.2006.07.057.CrossRefGoogle Scholar