European Chemistry Congress

Biography

Biography: Rukan Can Seyfeli

Abstract

Bentonites and their major clay mineral smectites have been important industrial raw materials. Some of the applications are drilling fluids, catalysts, cosmetics, paint and paper. Bentonites are very different because of their different chemical compositions and of the physical state of their constituents. These differences determine various technological applications of bentonites. Bentonites are classified according to their dominant exchangeable interlayer cation. Sodium bentonite may absorp a large amount of water in the interlayer which leads to high swelling degrees with hydration. In this study, bentonite samples from Çankırı region of Türkiye were treated with Na2CO3 and MgO. The mass percentages of Na2CO3 and MgO were in the range of 1-3. The statistical experimental design method was used for the amounts of chemicals used in the bentonite treatment. Na2CO3 and MgO were added to the initially moisturized bentonite samples and kneaded till all the bentonite had reacted with these chemicals. Then, the activated samples were left to drying and curing under sunlight. After activation and drying/curing period for a month, the activated samples were crushed. The resulting materials were analyzed by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The analyses showed that structural changes occurred by Na2CO3 and MgO treatment. Swelling tests were performed with 2 gram samples. The swelling experiments showed major increases in swelling degrees depending on the compositions of the chemicals added to the bentonite samples. The highest swelling degree observed was 27 ml for the sample with 3 % Na2CO3 and 1 % MgO addition.