Separation and characterisation of montmorillonite from a low-grade natural bentonite: using a non-destructive method

Micro & nano letters

article

Shima Barakan¹  Valeh Aghazadeh¹ 

[1] Department of Mineral Processing, Faculty of Mining Engineering, Sahand University of Technology

关键词: particle size;    quartz;    clay;    impurities;    X-ray diffraction;    purification;    nanocomposites;    raw materials;    mining;    Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy;    low-grade natural bentonite;    nondestructive method;    bentonite clays;    industrial raw material;    impurities;    bentonite purification;    sonication;    centrifugation;    purification method;    montmorillonite content;    separation yield;    purification yield;    laser particle size distribution analysis;    X-ray diffraction;    semiquantitative analysis;    Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy;   

DOI  :  10.1049/mnl.2018.5364

学科分类：计算机科学（综合）

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Bentonite clays containing mostly montmorillonite as a nanostructure group of smectite have been used as industrial raw material in many applications. The presence of the other impurities in bentonite clays reduces the value of bentonite. Therefore, the bentonite purification is necessary. In this research, the purification and separation of montmorillonite from a low-grade natural bentonite were considered on the regular and comprehensive plan. For this purpose, a set of methods including dispersion, sodium-activation, sedimentation, sonication and centrifugation were used. In contrast to many methods, there were often complex, expensive and non-effective; this purification method was found to be effective for removing almost all quartz, carbonates and clinoptilolite as the major impurities. In this purification method, the montmorillonite content was increased from 15 to 84% with the separation yield of 80%. The influence of centrifugal force and the type of ultrasonication indicated the most critical parameters in the purification yield, the physical properties and the crystalline structure of the final products. The laser particle size distribution analysis, X-ray diffraction, semi-quantitative analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results showed the decrease of impure phase without any structural changes or damages in clay framework.

【 授权许可】

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