Characterization of certain Nigerian clay minerals for water purification and other industrial applications

Abstract

Seven Nigerian clays and clay minerals were characterized by multiple means with respect to their potential application in water purification and other industrial areas. The morphology was determined by means of SEM while chemical/mineral compositions were quantified using EDX, XPS and XRD. FT-IR and UV methods were employed to investigate the functional groups, inter alia the physical and chemical behaviours of adsorbed species. The stability in aqueous solution was determined by zeta potential measurements. The combined results revealed that the clays are mostly kaolin and illite, while clay minerals are predominantly gibbsite and quartz, although other clay-associated minerals and elements were also observed. Two out of the characterized samples will find suitable application in filter media production for water purification due to the possession of exchangeable cations and electrophoresis properties, while the others possess potential industrial applications for refractory linings, ceramics, medical, beauty and cosmetics products. This outcome implies a utilization increase in local content and a value addition to minerals in Nigeria. The results of the study are being used to design and facilitate expanded clay aggregate production to be used for the development of low-cost water filters to address the challenge of poor access to potable water in Africa and other developing continents.

Expanded clay aggregates multi-functionality for water purification: Disinfection and adsorption studies

“…The EDX of these samples (not shown) though possessed high content (% weight) of silicon (52.89) and aluminium (53.51) respectively; it also recorded 3.44 for titanium (GI-1 only) and 2.31 for potassium. These results conform with the earlier report for Kutigi clay (Ihekweme et al, 2020) which had kaolin as the major mineral then. The present minerals can be attributed to high-temperature exposure and addition of Na 2 CO 3 .…”

“…The elemental compositions revealed by XPS showed high contents of O 1s and C 1s which could be attributed to the reasons mentioned earlier (Ihekweme et al, 2020) in their raw materials characterization. Other strong reflected elements were silicon, aluminium, fluorine, iron and calcium which are likely to exist in their oxides forms.…”

“…The raw clay samples for the aggregate were prepared and characterized in an earlier work reported (Ihekweme et al, 2020). The clay samples selected were from Kutigi and Minna.…”

Barite as an industrial mineral in Nigeria: occurrence, utilization, challenges and future prospects

“…Nigeria is richly and abundantly blessed with solid minerals of various types such as iron ore, tantalite, barites, gold, tin, bentonite, gypsum etc ( Adewuyi et al., 2019 ; Afolabi et al., 2017 ; Elder, 2012 ; FMSMD, 2004 ; Ihekweme et al., 2020 ; Obiajunwa, 2011 ; Omotehinse and Ako, 2019 ; Orosun et al., 2020 ; Ramadan and Abdel Fattah, 2010 ). The exploration and exploitation of most of these minerals are extremely low when compared to the number of deposits and this is as a result of the artisanal mining technique being used to mine these minerals ( Adewumi and Laniyan, 2020 ; Bello et al., 2019 ; Oramah et al., 2015 ; Taiwo and Awomeso, 2017 ).…”

Propriedades e aplicações industriais de argilas do estado do Maranhão / Properties and industrial applications of clays from Maranhão/Brazil

“…A argila é o principal componente ou matéria-prima da massa cerâmica estrutural, no entanto, é um material versátil, não se restringindo somente às aplicações para a construção civil. As mesmas têm sido utilizadas em aplicações mais avançadas, por exemplo, em suportes de catalisadores [2], material cimentício suplementar [3], purificação de água [4], clarificação de óleos vegetais [5], tintas ecológicas [6], adsorção de metais pesados [7]. A matéria-prima argilosa é facilmente encontrada na natureza, bastante abundante, de baixo custo de extração e processamento [8], [9].…”