Local kaolin clay from Jijel (Algeria): An approach toward sustainable sanitary Ceramics raw material use.

Abstract

The objective of this work is to valorize a kaolin clay extracted from the eastern Algerian region "El-Milia" by purifications and studying its physicochemical properties. Thus, characterization was carried out by the X fluorescence analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, true density and plasticity measurements, laser granulometry and finally thermal analysis. The results obtained from X fluorescence show that silica and alumina are predominant. The XRD confirms the mineralogical composition of these clays. Clay purification decreases the values true density and particles sizes, however; it increases plasticity. DSC analysis gives information on important transformation domains, such as; constitution water vaporization between 400 and 660 °C, α quartz transformation to β quartz around 574°C, Mullite (2SiO₂3AL₂O₃) formation around 985°C and illustrates allotropic transformation of Al₂O₃ between 1005°C and 1055°C. Infrared spectroscopy shows the characteristic absorptions domains of kaolinite, silica and other clay components.