03-P-06-Zeolitization of a spanish bentonite in seawater medium. Effect of alkaline concentration and time

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a zeolitization of a Spanish bentonite in seawater medium. A bentonite is modified to a zeolitic material by alkaline treatment in a seawater medium. The structural and textural characteristics of the clays modified in this medium are determined and compared with those of the natural clay and with those of the clays modified under the same conditions but in distilled water. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), thermogravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The modifications observed in the composition of the resulting zeolitic products depend not only on the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration and treatment time but also on the nature of the synthesis media. The zeolitic products synthesized in seawater show higher crystallinity and less heterogeneity. The treatment can be designed according to the characteristics required for the process in which the zeolitic product can be applied.