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Alkali activation of natural clay using a Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 alkaline mixture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

F. Shaqour ,
M. Ismeik  and
M. Esaifan
F. Shaqour
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Geology and Environment, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
M. Ismeik
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan Department of Civil Engineering, Australian College of Kuwait, Safat 13015, Kuwait
M. Esaifan*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
*
*E-mail: mu.esaifan@ju.edu.jo
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Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted on the alkali activation of a kaolinitic clay using an alkaline mixture composed of hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) solution. The Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 alkaline mixture was developed to overcome the high cost and chemical aggression associated with classical alkaline solutions. The mineralogical composition and microstructure of the alkaline mixture and alkali-activation products were studied using X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray-scanning electron microscopy techniques. Pirssonite (Na2Ca(CO3)2·2H2O), calcite (CaCO3), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) formed as a result of mixing of Ca(OH)2 with Na2CO3. The alkali activation of natural clay with the Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 alkaline mixture produced a binding agent identified as hydroxysodalite phase (Na8Al6Si6O24(OH)2·4H2O) when pure kaolinite was used, and cancrinite carbonate (Na6Ca1.5[Al6Si6O24](CO3)1.5·1.8H2O) when kaolinitic clay with high a calcite content was used. The mechanical strength of the binder developed was evaluated on cylindrical specimens containing granite waste as a filler material under dry and soaked conditions. The classical NaOH activator was used for comparison. For specimens produced using a Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 mixture as the alkaline activator, the recorded strength valuewas 21 MPa which was 35% less than that achieved by the classical NaOH solution. Durability tests on samples soaked in water for 24 h showed a reduction in strength from 34 to 22 MPa for specimens prepared with NaOH solution, and from 21 to 11 MPa for the specimens prepared with a Ca(OH)2/Na2CO3 alkaline mixture.

Keywords

kaolinitic claystrengthalkali activationCa(OH)2Na2CO3pirssonitehydroxysodalitecancrinite
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 52 , Issue 4 , December 2017 , pp. 485 - 496
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2017

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