Clay minerals of Pliocene deposits and their potential use for the purification of polluted wastewater in the Sohag area, Egypt

摘要: Abstract In our study we investigated the clay fraction composition of Pliocene deposits in Sohag area, Egypt. Our goal was to obtain insights into origin deposits, and assess their potential for use inexpensive wastewater purification. The rationale latter that Egypt both industrial irrigation water are often polluted with heavy metals (HMs), load which can be significantly reduced using clay. We combined physico-chemical analyses detailed X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical investigations Specific Surface Area (SSA) measurements samples from 16 locations four areas containing deposits. grain size distribution studied dominated by silt (75–89%) lower quantities (6–20%) sand (2–15%). Neither nor individual minerals varied between tested samples, suggesting they all originate a single source area. effect differential cation saturation (K + Mg 2 + ) heat treatments (25°C, 300°C, 550°C) on XRD patterns oriented aggregates clay-sized fractions revealed 4 different mineral groups samples. relative abundances were semi-quantified dominance smectite (69–91% average) relatively low contents kaolinite (9–29% minor amounts illite (1–7% chlorite (0 ≤ 1%). This assemblage suggests chemical weathering indicates warm climatic conditions area during period deposition. higher CEC values (32.3–65.4 cmol c /kg) also pointed occurrence soils. SSA (26.25–128.97 m 2 /g) correlated well exchangeable Ca , R  = 0.96 1.0 respectively) micropore volumes (R  = 1.0). Micropore increased exchanged cation: K  > Ca  > Na . smectite-rich have great used as raw material inexpensive, local purification HMs.