Sol-gel bioceramic material from bentonite clay

Bioceramic material of the quaternary system;SiO2- CaO-Na2O-P2O5 that has composition similar to Bio- glass? 45S5 was prepared by the sol-gel method from locally obtained bentonite clay (BTC). The monolith obtained was sintered at 1000?C for 2 h to facilitate densification and phase transformation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the presence of sodium calcium silicate, Na2Ca2Si3O9 as major crystal phase, and another secondary orthorhombic phase, NaCaPO4. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic investigation confirmed the presence of Si-O-Si bonds and a crystalline phosphate in the glass network. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a network of micropores and interconnected macropores. Overall, the material displays features amenable for possible utilization in tissue engineering scaffolds.

Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Ti-pillared Bentonite

Ti-pillared bentonite has been successfully prepared using a modified method that can induce the transformation of TiO2 pillar from amorphous to anatase phase at a low temperature （150℃）. The value of d0.01 =1.94 nm obtained by Ti-pillared bentonite is larger than that of corresponding raw clay （1.56 nm）. Due to large numbers of Ti-pillars formed, the Ti-pillared bentonite shows an excellent ability in adsorbing Rhodamine B （RB）. The photocatalytic activity and kinetic equation are investigated by decomposing RB solution under the UV irradiation. It is found that the Ti- pillared bentonite shows super photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RB solution compared with the untreated bentonite and pure TiO2, and the kinetic equation of the degradation of RB solution is a 1.5-oder equation.

A rapid automatic analyzer and its methodology for effective bentonite content based on image recognition technology

Fast and accurate determination of effective bentonite content in used clay bonded sand is very important for selecting the correct mixing ratio and mixing process to obtain high-performance molding sand. Currently, the effective bentonite content is determined by testing the ethylene blue absorbed in used clay bonded sand, which is usually a manual operation with some disadvantages including complicated process, long testing time and low accuracy. A rapid automatic analyzer of the effective bentonite content in used clay bonded sand was developed based on image recognition technology. The instrument consists of auto stirring, auto liquid removal, auto titration, step-rotation and image acquisition components, and processor. The principle of the image recognition method is first to decompose the color images into three-channel gray images based on the photosensitive degree difference of the light blue and dark blue in the three channels of red, green and blue, then to make the gray values subtraction calculation and gray level transformation of the gray images, and finally, to extract the outer circle light blue halo and the inner circle blue spot and calculate their area ratio. The titration process can be judged to reach the end-point while the area ratio is higher than the setting value.

Characterization and Adsorption Study of Thymol on Pillared Bentonite

Pillared clay (PILC) was prepared from Moroccan clay and characterized, and its aqueous thymol adsorption capacities were studied using a batch equilibrium technique. So, we tested the encapsulation of thymol by aluminum pillared clay (PILC). The PILCs displayed a total surface area of 270 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.246 cm3/g and an average pore diameter of 8.9 A, which corresponds to the size of Al13 forming the pillars between the clay layers. The adsorption capacity shown by the PILCs for thymol from water is close to 319 mg?g-1 for low solid/liquid ratio (0.2%). This result suggests that the PILCs have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics, as a result of the presence of silanol and siloxane groups formed during the pillaring and calcination of the PILCs. The experimental data were analyzed by the Freundlich and the Langmuir isotherm types for low values of equilibrium concentration. The rise of the isotherm in this range of concentrations was related to the affinity of thymol for clay sites, and the equilibrium data fitted well with the Freundlich model with maximum adsorption capacity of 319.51 mg/g for a ratio RS/L = 0.2%. Pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were tested with the experimental data and pseudo-first order kinetics was the best for the adsorption of thymol with coefficients of correlation R2 ≥0.986, and the adsorption was rapid with 90% of the thymol adsorbed within the first 20 min.

Discussion on“Dispersion characteristics of clayey soils containing waste rubber particles”[J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 15(2023)3050-3058]

We read with great interest the recent article by Erenson(2023)entitled“Dispersion characteristics of clayey soils containing waste rubber particles”.The author has studied the dispersion characteristics of clayey soils containing different percentages of waste rubber particles(WRPs)by performing several tests(viz.consistency limit,linear shrinkage limit,double hydrometer,crumb test and pinhole test)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis on five clayey(viz.Na-activated bentonite,refined ball clay,Ukrainian kaolin,Avanos kaolin and Afyon clay)samples containing 0%,5%,10%and 15%WRPs.It should be noted that Erenson(2023)has presented some interesting observations,but there are some serious issues that we want to share through this discussion and request the author of the original paper to address them to avoid their persistence in the scientific literature.

Urban Wastewater Treatment by Adsorption of Organic Matters on Modified Bentonite by(Iron-Aluminum)

In this research, the natural bentonite clay (from Maghnia, western Algeria) was purified (Na+- montmorillonite, CEC = 91 meq/100 g), noted (puri.bent) and modified with mixed hydroxy-Fe-Al (FeAl-PILC). The purified bentonite clay and FeAl-PILC were heated at 383 K for 2 hr and characte-rized by the chemical analyses data, XRD, and N2 adsorption to 77 K techniques. Puri.bent and FeAl-PILC were applied to fix the organic matter (OM) present in urban wastewater from the city of Sidi Bel-Abbes (western Algeria). The adsorption of organic matter was followed by spectro-photometry at 470 nm, and the adsorption data were a good fit with Freundlich isotherm for pu-ri.bent but for FeA-lPILC, were well fit by Elovitch isotherm model. The maximum adsorption ca-pacity (qm) was 571.6 mg/g for puri.bent and 1120.69 mg/g for FeAl-PLC. The degree of OM removal was 67% for puri.bent and 97% for FeAl-PILC. FeAl-PILC can be considered as a promising adsorbent for the removal of OM from wastewater.

Thermostability of montmorillonitic clays

Bentonite is one of the most widespread used clays connected with various applications. In the case of foundry technology, bentonite is primarily used as a binder for mold manufacture. Thermal stability of bentonites is a natural property of clay minerals and it depends on the genesis, source and chemical composition of the clay. This property is also closely connected to bentonite structure. According to DTA analysis if only one peak of dehydroxylation is observed(about 600 oC), the cis- isomerism of bentonite is expected, while two peaks of de-hydroxylation(about 550 and 850 oC) are expected in the trans- one. In this overview, the bentonite structure, the water – bentonite interaction and the swelling behavior of bentonite in connection with the general technological properties of bentonite molding mixture are summarized. Further, various types of methods for determination of bentonite thermostability are discussed, including instrumental analytical methods as well as methods that employ evaluation of various technological properties of bentonite binders and/or bentonite molding mixtures.

SAND: An Additive for Stabilzation of Swelling Clay Soils

An experimental program carried out in this study seeks to understand the physical mechanisms of stabilization of an expansive soil by adding an inert material (sand) at various forms;mixing and intercalation layers of sand. The first aim of the study is to analyze the effect of stabilization on the variation of soil consistency. The results show a marked improvement in soil consistency. Then a study of the effect of the additives on the variation of the swelling in order to solve the lifting structures caused by this phenomenon is carried out. It can be seen that the addition of sand is capable of reducing the swelling action. We complete the study using an ultrasonic device, measuring the propagation velocities of ultrasonic pulse through the tested clay samples. This shows a change occurring in the porosity of the clay when sand is added to it. As a result some interesting conclusions concerning the expansive soil-material amendment are drawn.

Simulations of THM processes in buffer-rock barriers of high-level waste disposal in an argillaceous formation

The main objective of this paper is to investigate and analyse the thermo-hydro-mechanical（THM） coupling phenomena and their influences on the repository safety.In this paper,the high-level waste（HLW） disposal concept in drifts in clay formation with backfilled bentonite buffer is represented numerically using the CODE BRIGHT developed by the Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona.The parameters of clay and bentonite used in the simulation are determined by laboratory and in situ experiments.The calculation results are presented to show the hydro-mechanical（HM） processes during the operation phase and the THM processes in the after-closure phase.According to the simulation results,the most probable critical processes for the disposal project have been represented and analyzed.The work also provides an input for additional development regarding the design,assessment and validation of the HLW disposal concept.

Experimental investigation of surfactant adsorption during EOR and soil pollution control processes:Influence of surfactant concentration,water salinity,and clay type

Surfactant injection is a well-established method of chemical EOR processes.Surfactant adsorption into clay layers can prevent their proper performance and thus reduce the oil recovery factor.On the other hand,this adsorption property of clay materials can be used to prevent surface and underground water pollution and reduce soil pollution.In this experimental study,the effect of surfactant concentration,electrolyte type(NaCl and MgCl_(2)),and the solution salinity on fluid adsorption into the interlayer space of different clay types(bentonite and kaolinite)was investigated.XRF analysis was conducted on two relevant clay samples,and immersion and Washburn tests were performed on the desired samples with the Sigma 700 setup.Then,according to the clay type,the most optimal conditions were introduced for the surfactant solution used in the two areas of EOR and environmental processes related to reducing soil pollution.In the EOR processes,the optimal condition for the lowest adsorption amount is C(with 1 CMC concentration and salinity of 100,000 ppm for NaCl salt).This fluid works better in kaolinite formations.In the environmental field related to the reduction of soil pollution,if the pollutants we are looking for are R and S(with alkyl benzene sulfonic acid as the dominant agent),bentonite has a better performance than kaolinite in terms of adsorption and subsequently pollution control.If the polluting fluid contains MgCl_(2) ions in the exact salinity values,the adsorption amount and soil pollution control will be higher for both adsorbent clays than if our fluid has NaCl salinity.The study's findings have a wide range of applications in surfactant flooding designs,surfactant adsorption optimization,and can be generalized to other detergent types.

Towards a sustainable geoliner construction in landflls by potential blending of fly ash with kaolin clay alternative:a review with an insight to Indian scenario

Electricity generated through coal-based Thermal Power Plants(TPPs)has played a pivotal role in shaping modern civiliza-tion,revolutionizing industries,and improving the quality of life for billions of people worldwide.These TPPs contribute to about 37%-40%of the global energy requirements.Energy production,in turn,has a direct impact on the economy of any country.Apart from this boon to humankind,these TPPs combusting coal as their primary fuel also have specific environmen-tal impacts,the major ones being water,air,and soil pollution due to unscientific disposal of high-quantity fly ash produced yearly.If we can put this ash to good use,it may assist us in mitigating the pollution caused by it.Although there are many conventional uses of fly ash,such as a pozzolanic material in the cement industry,more pathways need to be discovered to balance the high generation quantities with consumption.Therefore,a detailed description of its use in potential geoliner applications is presented in this article.A geoliner or a landfill liner acts as a virtually impenetrable layer to mitigate the leachate penetration into the underneath subsoil and groundwater,thus preventing contamination.There are presently some studies that support the use of only fly ash in such applications.Nevertheless,the properties of the geoliners using it are not so good to significantly mitigate environmental degradation owing to its high permeability and low densification tendency.The bentonite conventionally used has limited deposits and is mined intensively for its use as a natural sealant.Their depos-its must also be conserved,and an alternative material that may serve similar application benefits,like bentonite,must be selected.The desired aim can be fulfilled if we blend this combustion residue with other suitable materials(such as kaolinite clay)with low permeability.Thus,the article focuses on the possibilities of blending fly ash with different clays for geoliner construction to improve the individual properties of fly ash.This will contribute to developing a scope for future scientific research in deploying these blends in natural membrane materials for various industries.Different types of geoliners that are designed to contain the disposed-off waste are also explained in detail.Additionally,a glimpse of the global fly ash market is put forward to depict its importance for various industries in this technologically advancing world.This article profoundly observes an overall environmental management aspect regarding waste utilization.

Effect of Cassava Starch and Sodium Carbonate on the Properties of Local Drilling Mud: Beneficiation to Improve the Rheological and Flow Properties of Locally Formulated Mud

Drilling mud is a key component in drilling operations and in accessing oil and gas reservoirs. Bentonite is applied as a viscosifier, fluid loss control agent, and as a weighting material in water-based drilling mud. The type of bentonite used in drilling mud formulation is sodium bentonite due to its high dispersion properties and high swelling capacity. Nigeria has a huge bentonite clay deposit resources which can be evaluated and enhanced in order to be utilized as drilling mud. However, bentonite clay from different parts of Nigeria was investigated and found to be calcium bentonite which is not suitable for drilling mud, because it has low swelling capacity and poor rheological properties. In this study, local bentonite obtained from Afuze, Edo state was used to formulate different samples of drilling mud with each treated using thermo-chemical beneficiation process with sodium carbonate and cassava starch, and then undergo characterization to identify the changes in physical properties and finally, draw comparison with API values for standard drilling mud. The results obtained from this study indicates that, the flow and rheological properties of the beneficiated drilling mud developed through thermo-chemical treatment, showed significant improvement compared to the untreated mud. Therefore, pure calcium bentonite from natural deposits in Nigeria can be modified to sodium bentonite and sufficiently used in drilling mud formulation.

Developing More Effective Enhanced Biochar Fertilisers for Improvement of Pepper Yield and Quality

Utilization of biochar at high application rates can increase soil C and crop yields, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reduce nutrient run-off from soils. However, the high application rate of 10 t ha-1 may not return a profit to the farmer due to the high cost of biochar. In this study biochar was modified through pre-treating the biomass and post-treating with phosphoric acid, minerals and different chemical fertilisers to study the effects of two new enhanced biochar fertilisers on the yield and quality of green pepper in a field experiment with 5 fertilisation treatments and 3 replications. The two new biochar fertilisers significantly （P 〈 0.05） increased the yield of green pepper （11.33-11.47 t ha-l）, compared with the conventional chemical fertiliser （9.72 t ha-l）. The biochar fertiliser treatments improved the vitamin C content of green pepper from 236.99 to 278.28 mg kg-1, and also significantly （P 〈 0.05） reduced the nitrate content from 132.32 to 101.92 mg kg-1, compared with chemical fertiliser. This study indicated that, compared to the use of conventional chemical fertiliser, all of the biochar fertiliser treatments could significantly improve the yield and quality of green pepper.