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The Use of Salted Pastes of Soil Colloids for X-Ray Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Isaac Barshad*
Affiliation:
University of California, Berkeley, USA
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Abstract

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A new technique for the x-ray analysis of soil colloids is proposed based on the finding that the interlayer swelling of montmorillonite persists in the presence of salt solutions and that the x-ray reflection representing the d(001) spacings becomes intensified in salted gels. The technique consists in flocculating the colloid from a suspension with sodium chloride, removing the “free” Fe2O3, Al2O3, and SiO2 by means of a solution of sodium citrate and sodium hydrosulfite, separating the cleaned colloid from the solution as a salted paste, and as such subjecting it to x-ray analysis. The method is not only more rapid than other recommended methods for x-ray analysis of soil colloids, but also — and which is of the utmost importance — yields a much more accurate picture of the mineralogical composition, particularly with respect to the content of the mica and the montmorillonite-type clays.

Type
Article
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 1953

References

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