Abstract
We report a structural and morphological characterization of the natural kaolinite PP-0559, from the Brazilian Amazon region, with the aim to contribute to the understanding of this clay mineral in environmental redox reactions. The triclinic structure was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction studies. It exhibits oriented crystals, with diameters between 0.2 and 2 mm and about 50 nm of thickness. The anisotropic crystals after orientation were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance as a function of the applied magnetic field. The main EPR absorption lines of the substitutional Fe+3 impurity and radiation induced paramagnetic centers were studied as possible oxidizing centers of kaolinite.
Highlights
Clay minerals are the main colloidal soil fraction
The mechanisms promoting organo-mineral complex formation are very important in the maintenance of a micronutrient reservoir for crops. These clay mineral systems are important for agricultural activities in tropical countries.[2]
Stable defects in the kaolinite structure, which are detectable through electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), have been associated with their habilities to polymerize amines and amino acids.[3]
Summary
Clay minerals are the main colloidal soil fraction. Their physico-chemical properties are fundamentally influenced by their composition and surface reactivity. A detailed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) study on oriented samples was performed. A new appraisal of radiation-induced defects in oriented natural kaolinite was undertaken using Q-band EPR spectra,[8] in which the three different centers were better identified.
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