Effects of processing on the mineralogy and solubility of carbonate-rich clays for alkaline activation purpose: mechanical, thermal activation in red/ox atmosphere and their combination

Abstract The present study focuses on the assessment of the effects of different activation methods on carbonate-rich clays, to understand the mineralogical differences originated and to exploit such information to industry for traditional and innovative applications, especially as a precursor for alkali activated binders. Illite carbonate-rich clay samples were subjected to thermal activation in ox/red atmosphere between 400 and 900 °C, mechanical activation (grinding for 5, 10 and 15 min) and to a combination of such treatments. Mineralogical and textural changes in the activated samples were evaluated through X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal techniques. The activated samples with the highest content of amorphous phase underwent leaching tests in a 3 M NaOH solution by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The application of the three processing routines, yielded three types of activated clays with different leaching modes of Si, Al, K and Ca: (1) high energy grinding preferentially delaminates clay minerals and reduces the grain size of calcite. K leaching reaches the highest values; (2) thermal heating at 800 °C increases relatively the Si/Al solubility ratio, but the absolute concentrations of these elements are equal or lower than those obtained from ground clays. The relatively higher leaching of Ca is influenced by the formation of non-stoichiometric and poorly crystalline Ca-silicates and -aluminosilicates; (3) high energy grinding combined with heating treatment yields an extended amorphisation, mainly at the expense of clay minerals, with the highest leaching of Si and Al, and the lowest of Ca. New formed K-feldspars inhibit the concentration of K in alkaline solution.