19 Clay-polymer composites were designed for use in filtration processes for disinfection 20 during the course of water purification. The composites were formed by sorption of 21 polymers based on starch modified with quaternary ammonium ethers onto the 22 negatively charged clay mineral bentonite. The performance of the clay-polymer 23 complexes in removal of bacteria was strongly dependent on...

An impressive collection of chert artefacts from the Foeni Neolithic archaeological site (Timiş County, Banat region, Romania) is hosted by the Banat Museum in Timişoara. A representative set of seven specimens was non-destructively investigated using FT-Raman and ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy. The research was carried out for checking if these readily available, non-destructive, fast, and cheap metho...

The drivers for increasing incineration of sewage sludge and the characteristics of the resulting incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) are reviewed. It is estimated that approximately 1.7 milliontonnes of ISSA are produced annually world-wide and is likely to increase in the future. Although most ISSA is currently landfilled, various options have been investigated that allow recycling and benef...

SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE PROCESSING OF NANO CLAYS ANDPOLYMER/CLAY NANOCOMPOSITESbyMIHAI MANITIUAugust 2010Advisor: Rangaramanujam KannanCo-Advisor: Esin GulariMajor: Chemical EngineeringDegree: Doctor of Philosophy Effective dispersion of the fillers in a polymer matrix and improvement of polymer clayinteractions are two key challenges in the field of...

-Clay-modified electrode research indicates that adsorbed complexes are electroactive if the adsorption sites are clay edges. Interlayer adsorbed complexes may be electroactive ifa charge shuttle is added or if interlayer swelling is large. Conductivity of the film towards anionic species depends upon the swelling of the clay, which depends on the electrolyte concentration and speciation. The d...

Preparation of a novel organically modified clay from spent oil base drilling mud (SOBM) that could serve as core-shell clay filler for polymers is herein reported. Due to the hydrophilic nature of clay, its compatibility with polymer matrix was made possible through modification of the surface of the core clay sample with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) compound prior to its use. Fourie...

The segmental dynamics of rigid, intermediate, and mobile molecular components in carboxyl terminated polybutadiene (CTPB)/ organo−clay (C18−clay) systems was characterized by fully refocused H NMR FID. In addition, H DQ NMR experiments allowed semiquantitative monitoring of changes in segmental dynamics near the interface. Both methods suggest a critical concentration of 60 wt % CTPB, indicati...

Predicting soil phosphorus (P) needs and P fertilizer requirements is important for plant nutrition and reducing environmental risk. The P requirement (PR) can be calculated from three components: the current status of soil P (P0), soil P buffer coefficient (PBC), and the soil P critical level (PCL). The PBC and PCL can be predicted from soil clay content using linear-plateau models. The PR, PB...

ABS~CT Particle-size analyses of brickearth and Clay-with-flints from Kent, England, are presented. A calcareous sample of brickearth is comparable to loess. In th~ clay fraction, there is more illite (or glauconite) than kaolin; and there is some chlorite. The clay fraction of the Clay-withflints consists of smectite, illite and quartz and is probably derived directly from the Chalk. Black san...

Shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy can be applied directly to analyze the mineral chemistry of raw or geologic materials. It provides diagnostic spectral characteristics of the chemical composition of minerals, information that is invaluable for the identification and quality control of such materials. The present study aims to investigate the potential of SWIR spectroscopy as an alternativ...