Some physicochemical properties of a clay containing smectite and palygorskite

A sample of brown clay from the commercially mined Sungurlu deposit (Çorum, 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, Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques. The fraction of particles with diameters < 2 µm 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 °C was 22.1%. Two different recrystallization temperatures for the clay are 860 and 980 °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 m2 g− 1, 0.074 cm3 g− 1, 0.158 cm3 g− 1, and 0.232 cm3 g− 1, respectively.