Abstract
The demand for kaolinitic clays for various industrial applications is increasing globally. The present study evaluated the potential industrial applications of kaolins from the Eastern Dahomey and Niger Delta Basins, Nigeria. The colour, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), particle size distribution (PSD), plastic limits and liquid limits of the kaolins were determined. Mineralogical properties were assessed using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The chemical compositions of the kaolins were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The kaolins were generally acidic, with pH less than 7 with low EC. The moderate plasticity indices (PI ≥ 10%) for the kaolins suggested their potential use in the manufacturing of structural clay products without extrusion. Kaolinite was the only kaolin mineral present with anhedral–subhedral–euhedral crystals. The platy morphology of the kaolinites in the Cretaceous kaolins are very important in paper production. Other minerals present in the kaolins were quartz, muscovite, anatase and goethite. The major oxide contents of the kaolins were dominated by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and TiO2. Based on chemical specifications, the raw kaolins are not suitable for most industrial applications except for the Cretaceous Lakiri kaolins in the paper and ceramic industries (except for TiO2 and K2O content). The study concluded that the kaolin deposits would require beneficiation for large-scale industrial applications.
Highlights
Large kaolin deposits of primary and secondary origins with enormous reserves have been identified across Nigeria [1,2]
Known kaolin deposits of Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene ages occur within the sedimentary basins, which are believed to be filled with Cretaceous–Recent sediments except for some Paleogene/Neogene kaolin occurring within the Jos Plateau in areas underlain by the younger granites [3]
The percentage colour distribution for the Cretaceous kaolins was dominated by light and pinkish grey, followed by light pink, reddish yellow and pale red, and pinkish white; whereas the Paleogene/Neogene kaolins were dominated by pale red followed by pinkish grey, reddish brown and light brown (Table 2 and Figure 3)
Summary
Large kaolin deposits of primary and secondary origins with enormous reserves have been identified across Nigeria [1,2]. Several kaolin deposits in the world are mined and processed for industrial uses. These include the Cretaceous–Paleogene/Neogene Georgia and South Carolina sedimentary kaolins in United States of America, which have been explored since the 1750s [4], the Cornwall and Devon kaolins in Southwestern England, which are believed to be the world’s largest and highest grade primary kaolin deposits, and the Jari and Capim Rivers Paleogene/Neogene sedimentary kaolins in the Amazon region of Northern Brazil [5]. The traditional use of kaolins in ceramic production has risen sharply globally in the manufacturing of ceramic tiles because of the increase in construction activities with growing urbanisation and population. This increased its usage in the production of cements
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