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Analysis Of Properties Of Kaolin Deposits In Nigeria
[CASE OF STUDIES OF KPANKOROGI AND IJERO-EKITI]
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3.3.4 Grain Size Analysis
Grain size of clay refers to the diameter of the clay particles making up the soil mass. Grain size analysis therefore is an attempt to determine the particle size of the clay, which is expressed as the percentage of the different size fractions present, and the relative proportion are also considered.
Base on the grain size classification and the identification different types of clay can be achieve and depending on the grain sizes the potential of individual soil sample is known and are appropriately utilized for engineering purposes.
There are basically two types of analyses involve in grain size analyses. These are the mechanical method i.e. sieve method and the hydrometer methods.
Mechanical Methods (Grain Sizes Analysis)
This method is used in the analysis of particles greater than 0.002mm in diameter. The selection of sieve for this test depends on the soil to be tested and the coarser the clay the larger the top of the sieve.
A known quantity of soil is sieved through a stack of sieves with progressively smaller mesh openings, from top to bottom of the stack.
This grain size analysis cannot provide information on the shape of soil grains, (weather angular, rounded, sub-angular, sub-rounded), it cannot also determines the individual grain sizes, but it bracket the various ranges of sizes possible within the different sieves, that is the percentage of the sizes present.
The various ranges are obtained by relating the quantity of clay retained in a sieve with the total sample (Lambe; 1951).
Grains sizes and aggregate development are important factors for the prediction of mechanical performance of clay rock (Bowel; 1978).
Information obtained from the grin size analysis is present in the form of a curve. Grain sizes are plotted by using the percentage passing against grain diameter (also sieve size).
The shape of the grain sizes curve indicates the distribution of the grains. A smooth curve covering a wide range of size represents as well graded or non-uniform clay whose curve contains a vertical or nearly vertical portion is deficient in certain grain sizes in the region of the vertical slope. A consisting of few grain size is a poorly graded or uniform clay (Lambe; 1951).
Procedure for Mechanical Method
Clay particles were gently separated from each other.
The sieves set (stack of sieves) are then arranged in descending order from the top with a retainer beneath it 500g of sample was weight and poured into the sieve stack.
Sieve stack is the placed on the mechanical sieve shaker for about 5min.
Sieve stack is known separated one by one retrieving the clay fraction retained by then mesh of each sieve.
Clay fraction retained on each sieve is then weighted.
Statistical data of the result of the analysis will then be prepared.
Apparatus
Stack of sieves, weighting balance, oven, collating pan, mechanical soil pulverize.
3.3.6 Atterbergs Constituency Limits
Atterberg, a Swedish scientist in 1911 propose atterberg constituency limits. Clay constituency is defined as the physical forces of cohesion and adhesion action within the clay at various moistures content.
Water content in the clay is essentially a solid (e.g. mud, brick), a plastic (e.g. clay ready for molding), a liquid (e.g. shiny).
Atterberg defined the boundaries of three states of in terms of limit as follow:
Liquid limit (wl): the boundaries between the liquid and plastic state.
Plastic limit (wp): the boundaries between the plastic and semi solid state.
Shrinkage limits (ws): The boundaries after which the clay begins to shrink.
Atterberg limits tests are accurate methods which reflect the influence of water content, grain size and mineral composition upon the mineral behaviors of clays; they also involve measuring quantitatively the degree of plasticity of clays. The atterberg limit tests carried out in this project include liquid limit test, plastic limit test and shrinkage limit tests.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ABSTRACTThis study considered the mineralogical, elemental composition in form oxides and engineering properties such as particle size, specific gravity, bulk density; water content and atterberg limits of two kaolin deposits in Kpankorogi in Edu Local Government of Kwara State and in Ijero-Ekiti in Ijero-Ekiti Local Government Area, Ekiti State.This is with a view to assessing their potentials for Various industrial applications. The analyses includes X-Ray Diffraction (XRD and X-Ray Fluoresc ... Continue reading---
LIST OF TABLES - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]LIST OF TABLESTable 4.1: Engineering and physical properties of the samples Table 4.2: Grain Size Analysis of the samples Table 4.3: Chemical composition of the Samples Table 4.4: Mineralogical components of the Samples Table 4.5 Major elemental oxides tested by kaolin sample compared with chemical and industrial specifications ... Continue reading---
LIST OF FIGURES - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]LIST OF FIGURESFig. 3.1: Map of Nigeria Showing Kwara and Ekiti States Fig. 3.2: Map of Ekiti State indicating the study Area A Fig. 3.3: Map of Kwara State indicating the Study Area B Fig. 4.1: X-ray Diffractogram of Kpankorogi Kaolin Sample Fig.4.2: X-ray Diffractogram of Ijero-Ekiti Kaolin Sample ... Continue reading---
TABLE OF CONTENTS - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]TABLE OF CONTENTSTitle Page Certification Dedication Acknowledgement Abstract Table of Content List of Tables List of Figures CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Aim and Objectives ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER ONE - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]CHAPTER ONE1.0 Introduction Kaolin is a clay rock and part of the group of industrial minerals with the chemical composition (Al2Si205 (OH)4.It is a layered silicate mineral with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet alumina i.e. structurally composed of silicate sheet (Si2O¬5) bonded to aluminum oxide/hydroxide layer Al2 (OH)4 called gibbsite lay ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER TWO - [ Total Page(s): 2 ]Kaolin also finds application as crystal to promote organic reactions, such as petroleum cracking or de-polymerization of large organic molecules found in natural hydrocarbons as demonstrated by (Iglewe and Nwokolo, 2005).The grain size and shape of kaolin is used to advantages in the paper industry, where it is used both as a filling agent and as coating agent also printing inks tend to adhere better to kaolin –treated paper surface (Velde, 1992, Aliyu, 1996). Both grain and sha ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FOUR - [ Total Page(s): 5 ]The result of the oxide analysis is presented in the table 4.3. Elemental oxides found in the Samples are SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, CuO, ZnO, Cr2O5, V2O5 and Se2O3, Table 4.5 shows the requirement and industrial specification. SiO2 of both Samples can be used in refractory bricks, ceramics, Al¬2O3 meets the requirement for refractory bricks, ceramics, and coating, TiO2 meets the range and can be used in refractory bricks, rubber, ceramics, and bricks clay, CaO meet ... Continue reading---
CHAPTER FIVE - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]CHAPTER FIVE5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations5.1 ConclusionCompositional features and industrial applications of Kpankorogi and ijero Ekiti kaolin clay were analyzed based on mineralogy, Chemical composition and physical characteristics of the deposits. This is with the view to determining its suitability as industrial raw material. From the study, it is Obtained that kpankorogi kaolin clay deposit is predominantly Quartz but with hi ... Continue reading---
REFRENCES - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]ReferencesAderiye, J.(2005). Development of firebricks for furnances. M.Sc. Thesis, Acta 60 (4), 553–564. ADONDUA, S (1988). Indigenous Refractory Raw Materials Base for Nigerian Steel Industry Journal of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSCHE), (7): 2, pp. 322-327. Aliyu, A. (1996): Potentials of the Solid Minerals Industry in Nigeria Abuja: RMDC. Pp. 1-40, 63 – 83, 164 – 172 Aref, A. (2009): Characterizatio ... Continue reading---
