Elaboration and Characterization of Natural Diatomite in Aktyubinsk/ Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the structure, mineralogical specifics and chemical composition, of a natural and modified diatomite ore, which obtained from the Aktyubinsk /Kazakhstan deposits by using SEM, XRF, XRD, FTIR, TGA and SDTA. Three modified forms of diatomite’s were prepared by calcinations at 900° C and/or calcinations and acidification by 0.5 N HCl (D, D-HCl, D-900 and D-900-HCl). The iron(Fe₂O₃ ) and silica (SiO₂) contents in natural raw diatomite were about 3.9 % and SiO₂ 80.23 % respectively. Whereas, the modified diatomite which treated with 0.5 N HCl followed calcination at 900° C revealed 0.92% and 84.75% of Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ respectively. This proved that the elimination of the impurities which may be found as clay minerals, especially mica and kaolinite. The SEM micrographs investigation of acid activation and/or acid activation followed by calcinations showed the original geometry of the pores to be preserved, but there is collapse in the skeleton structure.

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