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Hydrothermal Synthesis of Kaolinite and its Formation Mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Kyoung-Won Ryu ,
Young-Nam Jang  and
Soo-Chun Chae
Kyoung-Won Ryu
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
Young-Nam Jang*
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
Soo-Chun Chae
Affiliation:
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Geological and Environmental Research Department, Daejeon 305-350, Korea
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
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Abstract

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In spite of many studies of kaolinite synthesis, questions remain as to the transformation of gel into kaolinite, the kinetics of the reaction, and the influence of solution chemistry. The purpose of the present study was to perform a hydrothermal synthesis in order to understand better the transformation from boehmite to kaolinite. Kaolinite was synthesized from amorphous SiO2 and Al(OH)3·xH2O at fixed temperature (250°C) and pressure (30 bar). The initial pH of the solution was 2. The reaction time for the synthesis was varied from 2 to 36 h. The physical properties of synthesized kaolinite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, field-emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS).

The early stage of kaolinite synthesis followed activation of amorphous Al(OH)3·xH2O to initiate the reactions, i.e. ionization and subsequent crystallization of boehmite. The boehmite reacted continuously with Si4+ dissolved in solution and gradually transformed to disordered, lath-shaped boehmite. In XRD and IR patterns, the typical peaks of boehmite were weakened or disappeared following the reaction.

Structural transformation from boehmite to kaolinite occurred when the Al/Si ratio of the aluminosilicate was 1.0. The kaolinite formed was in the form of curved flakes and its crystallinity increased with reaction time. In the final stage of reaction the morphology of kaolinite changed from flaky to polygonal. The hexagonal, platy kaolinite was therefore developed to allow the gradual variation of the chemical composition, crystal structure, and morphology.

Keywords

BoehmiteHexagonalKaoliniteSynthesisTransformation
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 58 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 44 - 51
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2010

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