Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:20:31.013Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthetic imogolite: properties, synthesis and possible applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

V. C. Farmer
Affiliation:
The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB9 2QJ, UK
M. J. Adams
Affiliation:
The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB9 2QJ, UK
A. R. Fraser
Affiliation:
The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB9 2QJ, UK
F. Palmieri
Affiliation:
Istituto di Chimica Agraria, Universita Delgi Studi di Napoli, Portici, Italy

Abstract

The unique properties of imogolite are closely related to its structure, which is a tube of 23–27 Å outer diameter and ∼10 Å inner diameter, with an AIOH outer surface and SiOH inner surface. Acid dispersions contain the long, positively-charged tubes as isolated units or small bundles, which form bulky gels in alkali, and flocculate with negatively-charged colloids, polyvalent anions, and long-chain anionic detergents. Sorption properties are associated with the 10 Å intra-tube pores and with inter-tube channels of variable dimensions. Surface acidity is less than that of layer-silicate clays. The chemical and mechanical stability, biological activity, film- and fibre-forming characteristics, and conditions of synthesis are reviewed, on the basis of both new and published findings. Areas of potential application are indicated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, M.J. (1980) Gas chromatography adsorption studies on synthetic imogolite. J. Chromatography 188, 97106.Google Scholar
Cradwick, P.D.G., Farmer, V.C., Russell, J.D. Masson, C.R., Wada, K. & Yoshinaga, N. (1972) Imogolite, a hydrated aluminium silicate of tubular structure. Nature Phys. Sci. 240, 187189.Google Scholar
Egashira, K. & Aomine, S. (1974) Effects of drying and heating on the surface area of allophane and imogolite. Clay Sci. 4, 231242.Google Scholar
Egashira, K. (1977) Viscosities of allophane and imogolite clay suspensions. Clay Sci. 5, 8795.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C., Fraser, A.R. & Tait, J.M. (1977) Synthesis of imogolite: A tubular aluminium silicate polymer. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm. 462463.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C, Smith, B.F.L. & Tait, J.M. (1977) Alteration of allophane and imogolite by alkaline digestion. Clay Miner. 12, 195198.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C. & Fraser, A.R. (1979) Synthetic imogolite, a tubular hydroxyaluminium silicate. Pp. 547553 in: International Clay Conference 1978 (Mortland, M. M. and Farmer, V. C., editors). Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C., Fraser, A.R. & Tait, J.M. (1979) Characterization of the chemical structures of natural and synthetic aluminosilicate gels by infrared spectroscopy. Geochim. Cosmochim Acta 43, 14171420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, V.C, Smith, B.F.L. & Tait, J.M. (1979) The stability, free energy and heat of formation of imogolite. Clay Miner. 14, 103107.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C. & Fraser, A.R. (1982) Chemical and colloidal stability of sols in the Al2O3-Fe2O3-SiO2-H2O system: their role in podzolization. J. Soil Sci. 33, 737742.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C. (1982) Significance of the presence of allophane and imogolite in podzol Bs horizons for podzolization mechanisms: a review. Soil Sci. PI. Nutr. 28, 571578.Google Scholar
Farmer, V.C., Russell, J.D. & Smith, B.F.L. (1983) Extraction of inorganic forms of translocated Al, Fe and Si from a podzol Bs horizon. J. Soil Sci. 34 (in press).Google Scholar
Henmi, T. & Wada, K. (1974) Surface acidity of imogolite and allophane. Clay Miner. 10, 231245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henmi, T. & Yoshinaga, N. (1981) Alteration of imogolite by dry grinding. Clay Miner. 16, 139149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horikawa, Y. & Hirose, K. (1975) Spectrophotometric measurement of flocculation rate of selected clays. Clay Sci. 4, 271280.Google Scholar
Horikawa, Y. (1975a) Electrokinetic behaviour of aqueous suspensions of allophane and imogolite. Clay Sci. 4,255-263.Google Scholar
Horikawa, Y. (1975b) Effects of ionic surface active agents on the floatability and electrophoretic mobility of selected clays. Clay Sci. 4, 281290.Google Scholar
Horikawa, Y. (1976) Electrophoretic mobility of binary mixtures of imogolite and some other clay minerals in aqueous suspensions. Clay Sci. 5, 4350.Google Scholar
Horikawa, Y., Yonebayashi, K. & Hattori, T. (1976) An electron microscope investigation on particle association between imogolite and other clay minerals in mixed suspensions. Clay Sci. 5, 5156.Google Scholar
Maekaw, k. & Momii, A. (1972) Repression of propogation of Ehrlich Ascites tumors by means of attenuating tumor cells. II. Proc. Japan Acad. 48, 690694.Google Scholar
Parfitt, R.L., Thomas, A.D., Atkinson, R.J. & Smart, R. St. C. (1974) Adsorption of phosphate on imogolite. Clays Clay Miner. 22, 455456.Google Scholar
Parfitt, R.L., Fraser, A.R., Russell, J.D. & Farmer, V.C. (1977) Adsorption on hydrous oxides II. Oxalate, benzoate and phosphate on gibbsite. J. Soil Sci. 28, 4047.Google Scholar
Russell, J.D., Mchardy, W.J. & Fraser, A.R. (1969) Imogolite: a unique aluminosilicate. Clay Miner. 8, 8799.Google Scholar
Tait, J.M., Yoshinaga, N. & Mitchell, B.D. (1978) The occurrence of imogolite in some Scottish soils. Soil Sci. PI. Nutr. 245, 145151.Google Scholar
Wada, K. & Yoshinaga, N. (1969) The structure of imogolite. Am. Miner. 54, 5071.Google Scholar
Wada, K. & Henmi, T. (1972) Characterization of micropores of imogolite by measuring retention of quaternary ammonium chlorides and water. Clay Sci. 4, 127136.Google Scholar
Wada, K. (1977) Allophane and imogolite. Pp. 603638 in: Minerals in Soil Environments (Dixon, J. B. and Weed, S. B., editors). Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wis.Google Scholar
Wada, S.I., Eto, A. & Wada, K. (1979) Synthetic allophane and imogolite. J. Soil Sci. 30, 347355.Google Scholar
Wells, N., Theng, B.K.G. & Walker, G.D. (1980) Behaviour of imogolite gels under shear. Clay Sci. 5, 257265.Google Scholar
Yoshinaga, N. & Aomine, A. (1962) Imogolite in some Ando soils. Soil Sci. PI. Nutr. 8(3), 2229.Google Scholar
Yoshinaga, N. (1968) Identification of imogolite in the filmy gel materials in the Imaichi and Shichihonzakura pumice beds. Soil Sci. PI. Nutr. 14, 238246.Google Scholar