Illite irradiation

Illite, a mineral that forms in alkaline solutions (15), is more stable than kaolinite in 30% NaOH. The experiments (Table II) in which illite was reacted either at room temperature or at 105 C with 30% NaOH showed that no discernible reaction took place. In the microwave irradiated experiments, however, considerable changes occurred. Illite strongly absorbed the microwave energy, causing considerable heating of the sample. When illite was irradiated for... 

Treatment of Illite (Containing Quartz Impurities) with Caustic and Microwave Irradiation, Followed by Water or 10% HCl Wash... 

The reactions between clay minerals, NaOH solutions, and micro-wave irradiation showed that the clay mineral structures began to break down, and the released Al and Si (and some K) combined with Na from the solution to form new minerals. The exact reaction path could not be determined from the present experiments. Since the new minerals formed had approximately the same Al Si ratio as the clay minerals, no excess Al (as AI2OJ or Al(OH)g) or quartz was expected, nor was any found in the XRD pattern. The following equations, arranged with increasing time, seem most reasonable to describe the reactions observed for kaolinite and illite ... 

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