Clay minerals decomposition

Reactions below about 1300°C, of which the most important are (a) the decomposition of calcite (calcining), (b) the decomposition of clay minerals, and (c) reaction of calcite or lime formed from it with quartz and clay mineral decomposition products to give belite, aluminate and ferrite. Liquid is formed only to a minor extent at this stage, but may have an important effect in promoting the reactions. At the end of this stage, the major phases present are belite, lime, aluminate and ferrite. The last two may not be identical with the corresponding phases in the final product. 

The dissociation pressure of calcite reaches 0.101 kPa (1 atm) at 894°C (S20) and the decarbonation reaction is highly endothermic (Section 3.1.4). The rate of decarbonation becomes significant at 500-600°C if a sufficiently low partial pressure of COj is maintained or if the calcite is intimately mixed with materials, such as quartz or clay mineral decomposition products, that react with the calcium oxide. Even in a precalciner, such mixing occurs, aided by agglomeration caused by the presence of low-temperature sulphate melts. 

The chemical reactions below 1300°C are calcination, decomposition of clay minerals as well as the reaction of calcium carbonate (calcite) CaCOg or calcium oxide (lime) CaO with quartz and clay mineral decomposition products. Calcination of calcite, decomposition of clay minerals are endothermic reactions, while reaction of calcife or lime with quartz and clay mineral decomposition products are exothermic. Calcination of pure calcium carbonate is done according to the reaction ... 

Perkins, A. T., R. D. Dragsorf, E. R. Lippincott, J. Selby, and W. G. Fateley, 1955. Products of clay mineral decomposition as related to phosphate fixation. Soil Scl 80 109. 

Air drying removes most of the surface moisture of coal, while a temperature of approximately 107°C (225°F) is needed to remove inherent moisture. At temperatures of approximately 200 to 300°C (392 to 572°F), moisture from the decomposition of organic materials is driven off, but water of hydration requires a considerable amount of energy for expulsion. For example, the water of hydration in clay minerals may require a temperature in excess of 500°C (932°F). However, the issues of decomposition moisture and water of hydration of mineral matter are not usually dealt with in conventional analysis because the temperatures specified in the test methods for moisture determination are well below those needed to remove such moisture. 

Correns, C. W. (1963). Experiments on the decomposition of silicates and discussion of chemical weathering. Clays Clay Miner. 10, 443-459. 

This review summarizes experimental and theoretical studies which are used to develop theoretical models that explain and predict how clay minerals and metal oxides can affect the adsorption and decomposition of selected organophosphorus compounds. The results can contribute to a better knowledge of the impact of such processes on existing remedial technologies and in the development of new removal and decomposition techniques. 

Adsorption and Decomposition of Organophosphorus Compounds on Clay Minerals and Metal Oxides... 

For a better understanding of the nature of the adsorption forces between TNB and the siloxane surface of clay minerals, the decomposition scheme of Sokalski et al. [199] was applied. The results of such energy decomposition are presented in Table 6. They are in complete agreement with qualitative conclusions presented above. One may see that two dominant attractive contributions govern the adsorption of TNB. As it is expected, one is an electrostatic contribution, and the other one is contribution, which includes components that originate from the electronic correlation. The electronic correlation related contributions include the dispersion component and a correlation correction to electrostatic, exchange, and delocalization terms of the interaction energy. 

Murray, P., and J. White Kinetics of the thermal decomposition of clay minerals. Trans. Brit. Ceram. Soc. 54, 151/187 (1955). 

The overall enthalpy change in forming clinker is dominated by the strongly endothermic decomposition of calcite. The component reactions for the replacement of clay minerals by oxides are endothermic, because the heat required for dehydroxylation exceeds that liberated on forming the products. 

Wolter (W14) determined the phase compositions of kiln inlet meals from about 20 plants using cyclone preheaters, usually with precalciners. XRD showed that the decomposition products of the clay minerals were especially reactive, though some reaction of quartz also occurred. Phases detected, and some notable absences, were as follows ... 

Rapid increase in temperature is desirable at temperatures below those at which substantial liquid formation occurs (C9,B27,S21,C11,W9,G26). Most of the belite, and almost all of the other product phases, subsequently either melt or react in the presence of the melt, and there is no merit in promoting crystal growth or removal of imperfections, which would impede these processes. Slow heating may also allow the decomposition products of the clay minerals to transform into less reactive phases. It can also lead to the formation of microstructures unfavourable to the later reactions Chromy (C9) found that it allowed the belite shells around the silica particles to thicken, producing composites slow to react with lime. In contrast, rapid heating increases movement of the liquid phase, when this forms, and thus improves the mixing of the calcareous and siliceous constituents (Cl 1). 

Diatomaceous earth is composed of the siliceous skeletons of microorganisms. It is pozzolanic, but its use in concrete is much restricted by its very high specific surface area, which greatly increases the water demand. Some clays react significantly with lime at ordinary temperatures, but while this property can be of value for soil stabilization, their physical properties preclude their use in concrete. Many clay minerals yield poorly crystalline or anrorphous decomposition products at 600-900 C (Section. 3.3.2), and if the conditions of heat treatment are properly chosen, these have enhanced pozzolanic properties. Heat-treated clays, including crushed bricks or tiles, can thus be used as pozzolanas in India, they are called surkhi. Other examples of natural rocks that have been used as pozzolanas, usually after heat treatment, include gaize (a siliceous rock containing clay minerals found in France) and moler (an impure diatomaceous earth from Denmark). The heat-treated materials are called artificial pozzolanas, and this term is sometimes used more widely, to include pfa. 

Pottery is produced by the conversion of sedimentary clay (produced by the weathering of rocks) into hard rocklike objects. The clay minerals, which were formed by the chemical decomposition of certain rock-forming minerals, contain trace elements. The sediments in which these clays are found, however, also contain fragments of the primary minerals from the parent rock (including grains of silica sand). These detrital components, which result from the physical and chemical breakdown of minerals, are often accompanied by authigenic minerals that are chemically precipitated from aqueous solutions. In some ceramics, additional components were added as temper during production. 

Control of Decomposition and Stabilization Table 13 Surface characteristics of various clay minerals. 

An actual contribution of humic substances to metal oxide reduction in natural systems has not been demonstrated, and there are processes such as adsorption or decomposition that could limit their effectiveness. Kostka et al. (2002a) observed that AQDS additions elicited a larger increase in Fe(III) reduction by S. oneidensis growing on ferrihydrite than smectite clay minerals. This suggests that the influence of humic substances may depend on soil or sediment mineralogy. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence to suggest that a portion of the anaerobic metabolism that was previously attributed to direct enzymatic Fe(III) and Mn(IV) reduction was actually none-nzymatic reduction by microbially reduced humic substances. 

Tan, K.H., 1975. The catalytic decomposition of clay minerals by complex reaction with humic and fulvic acid. Soil Sci., 120 188—194. 

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