A natural bentonite obtained from Khorasan, Iran, was submitted to acid activation with sulphuric acid. Sample aliquots (5gr)were leached with 100 ml H2SO4 solutions of various concentrations (2–7N) at 80±2 oC for 2 hours. X–ray diffraction, chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy and specific surface area measurements were performed in order to evaluate important structural modifications occ...

Among various energy storage and conversion materials, functionalized natural clays display significant potentials as electrodes, electrolytes, separators, nanofillers in devices. Natural have porous structures, tunable specific surface areas, remarkable thermal mechanical stabilities, abundant reserves, cost-effectiveness. In addition, deliver the advantages of high ionic conductivity hydrophi...

Due to their physical properties, illite clays can sorb cesium-137 almost irreversibly, and therefore sequester contamination from the environment. However, applying large amounts of clay to natural aquatic habitats for in situ remediation purposes may create conditions of high turbidity and sedimentation. To evaluate potential effects of turbidity from illite application on survivorship of str...

BACKGROUND In the lower Mekong Basin and coastal zones of Southern Vietnam, forests dominated by the genus Melaleuca have two notable features: most have been substantially disturbed by human activity and can now be considered as degraded forests; and most are subject to acute pressures from climate change, particularly in regards to changes in the hydrological and sodicity properties of forest...

Colloidal suspensions of plate-like particles undergo a variety of phase transitions. The predicted isotropic/nematic transition is often pre-empted by a sol/gel transition, especially in suspensions of the most commonly used natural swelling clay montmorillonite (MMT). A number of factors, including charge interactions, flexibility and salt concentration, may contribute to this competition. In...