Investigation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of the Zeolites of the Kholinsky Deposit

Abstract

Introduction. The mineral resource base of Russia has effective sorption substances that meet pharmaceutical requirements. Promising mineral raw materials are Zeolites, which combine the properties of an adsorbent and a "molecular sieve" due to the porous structure. In addition to the enterosorption direction, natural Zeolites are a source of macro-and microelements, which determines their use as biologically active food additives.Aim. Study of the physical and chemical characteristics of the Zeolites of the Kholinsky deposit.Materials and methods. The zeolite mineral raw materials of the Kholinsky deposit were used as objects of research. Optical microscopy was performed using a Leica DM direct microscope (Microsystems, Germany). Energy dispersion analysis was performed using an electron scanning microscope JSM-5300 (Jeol Ltd, Japan). The sorption characteristics were studied using the ASAP 2400 device (Micromeritics, USA) according to the method. The construction of a virtual three-dimensional molecular model of the Zeolite was carried out using the program Java Applet Jmol.Results and discussion. The physicochemical properties of Zeolites are investigated. It is established that morphologically the particles of the zeolite phase have a size of 5-30 microns, they are evenly distributed over the entire area of the site and represent the first structural level. Particles of the zeolite phase with a size of 5-6 microns form the second structural level due to Clinoptilolite crystals, microcracks and microgeodes. Based on the energy-dispersion spectral analysis, an increased content of the elements K, Na was revealed, which indicates the alkaline composition of the cation exchange complex. The studied Zeolite samples have micropores (volume 0.0031 cm3/g), mesopores (volume 0.0675 cm3/g), and a specific surface area of 29.1840 m2/g. A virtual three-dimensional molecular model of the Zeolite of the Kholinsky deposit has been developed. According to the molecular model, the sorption characteristics of the Kholinsky deposit Zeolite were: specific surface area - 1096.31 m2/g (1916.34 m2/cm3), the average diameter of the spherical molecule for adsorption in the pores is 5.97 Å.Conclusion. The analysis of the sorption characteristics of the Zeolite revealed the following features: the pores occupy half the volume of the entire Zeolite, which are available for the sorption of water and low-molecular substances. Each pore in three mutually perpendicular directions communicates with the neighboring ones through "windows". A system of intracrystalline pores and cavities is formed, in which the occlusion and adsorption of molecules of the appropriate size easily occurs.

Keywords

• medicinal mineral raw materials
• zeolite
• clinoptilolite
• sorbent
• molecular model