Some physicochemical properties of a clay containing smectite and palygorskite

A sample of brown clay from the commercially mined Sungurlu deposit (forum, Turkey) was examined in terms of its mineralogy, morphology and porosity by particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, cation exchange, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Mossbauer spectroscopy, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques. The fraction of particles with diameters <2 mu m in the aqueous dispersion was 83% (v,v). The moisture content and cation exchange capacity of the clay were 12.1 mass % and 0.85 eq/g, respectively. Total mass loss between 25-1000 degrees C was 22.1%. Two different recrystallization temperatures for the clay are 860 and 980 degrees C. The sample contained iron rich calcium smectite (CaS), fibrous palygorskite (P), and quartz (Q). The specific values of surface area, micropore volume, mesopore volume, and micro-mesopore volume were 208 m(2) g(-1), 0.074 cm(3) g(-1), 0.158 cm(3) g(-1), and 0.232 cm(3) g(-1), respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.