Abstract
The present study aimed to explore a new source of montmorillonite and to develop an extraction and purification protocol for its isolation from raw clay samples acquired from the Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range in Pakistan. The process involved the collection of raw clay from the source, identification and quantification of montmorillonite. Granulometric extraction and purification protocols increased the montmorillonite content from 21.8–25.1% in the raw clay to 90.1–93.9% after small-scale extraction and 85.33–89.33% on a larger scale. A techno-economic analysis highlighted the practicality and economic benefits of large-scale extraction for industrial applications. This study highlights the existence of a substantial new source of this valuable clay which is currently used across multiple industries including construction, pottery making, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and engineering. It is intuitively expected that the large-scale extraction of the material will improve the economic condition of the region by providing employment opportunities to locals and may be a valuable resource for export.
Highlights
May be used to optimise the physical and mechanical properties of formulations, including elasticity and tensile strength of gels or films[8]
A sample of raw bentonite collected from the mining site of Anji Gaoyu, Zhejiang province in China comprised 44% montmorillonite, while raw clay collected from a Pakistani mining site of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province located in Shagia contained 75% montmorillonite[18,19]
This study successfully identified and extracted montmorillonite from a new source in the Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range of Pakistan
Summary
May be used to optimise the physical and mechanical properties of formulations, including elasticity and tensile strength of gels or films[8]. An abundant supply of raw clay exists in a largely untouched mountainous location in South Punjab, Pakistan, the isolation, purification and characterisation of montmorillonite from these raw clays was unexplored. It is expected that harvesting this valuable resource may provide economic benefits for the region. These materials may contain a number of undesirable substances including lead, arsenic and crystalline silica which may impede their industrial potential but may have adverse health effects if employed in raw form[18]. The aim of this study was to develop a granulometric purification protocol from small to large scale for the isolation of montmorillonite from raw clay samples obtained from the Koh-e-Suleiman mountain range of Pakistan (Fig. 1). Characterisation of the purified montmorillonite samples was carried out including the techno-economical cost estimated to establish its suitability for use in industrial applications
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