Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T11:14:17.334Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hydrothermal solidification of sepiolite into a cemented sepiolite aggregate for humidity regulation and formaldehyde removal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2021

Pengcheng Qiu ,
Li Guo ,
Yujie Qi ,
Mingzhao Cheng  and
Zhenzi Jing
Pengcheng Qiu
Affiliation:
Tongji University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai, 201804, China
Li Guo
Affiliation:
Tongji University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai, 201804, China
Yujie Qi
Affiliation:
Tongji University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai, 201804, China
Mingzhao Cheng
Affiliation:
Tongji University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai, 201804, China
Zhenzi Jing*
Affiliation:
Tongji University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai, 201804, China
*
*Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Sepiolite powder was hydrothermally solidified into a cemented, designed to function both in humidity regulation and volatile organic compound (VOC) removal. The solidification process mimicked the cementation of sedimentary rocks. The formation of the calcium aluminium silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) or Al-tobermorite enhanced the strength (maximum flexural strength >17 MPa) and improved the porosity of the solidified materials. Due to the low temperature of hydrothermal solidification (≤473.15 K), most sepiolite remained in the matrix of the solidified specimens. The cemented sepiolite aggregate shows outstanding humidity-regulating performance (moisture adsorption of 430 g m–2), and the synergistic effects of the residual sepiolite and neoformed Al-tobermorite exerted a positive influence on the humidity regulation performance of the material. Similarly to the behaviour of sepiolite, the solidified material also displayed good formaldehyde-removal capacity (60–68%). The pore dimensions controlled the humidity regulation and formaldehyde removal. The humidity regulation depends on the mesopores, which originate mainly from both the original sepiolite and the neoformed C-A-S-H phases and Al-tobermorite, while the formaldehyde removal depends on the micropores from the original sepiolite in the matrix. As such, the cemented sepiolite aggregate might be hydrothermally synthesized and might be used to improve the comfort and safety of indoor environments for human beings.

Keywords

Al-tobermoriteC-A-S-Hcemented sepiolite aggregatehumidity self-regulationhydrothermal solidificationVOC removal
Type
Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 320 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Associate Editor: Huaming Yang

References

Ahlrichs, J.L., Serna, C. & Serratosa, J.M. (1975) Structural hydroxyls in sepiolite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 23, 119–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arundel, A.V., Sterling, E.M. & Biggin, J.H. (1986) Indirect health-effects of relative-humidity in indoor environments. Environmental Health Perspectives, 65, 351–361.Google ScholarPubMed
Chen, S.G. & Yang, R.T. (1996) Theoretical investigation of relationships between characteristic energy and pore size for adsorption in micropores. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 177, 298–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cho, C.K. & You, H.S. (2020) Superabsorbent Resin Composite Having Improved Adsorption–Desorption Rate of Moisture in Air Useful as Humidity Control Material for Room and Package, and in Hygrometer System, Comprises Sepiolite. South Korean Patent KR2020002114-A.Google Scholar
Gonzalez, J.C., Molina-Sabio, M. & Rodriguez-Reinoso, F. (2001) Sepiolite-based adsorbents as humidity controller. Applied Clay Science, 20, 111–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonzalez-Santamaria, D.E., Lopez, E. & Ruiz, A. (2017) Adsorption of phenanthrene by stevensite and sepiolite. Clay Minerals, 52, 341–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
He, R.T., Hu, B.Y., Zhong, H., Jin, F.M., Fan, J.J., Hu, Y.H. & Jing, Z.Z. (2019) Reduction of CO2 with H2S in a simulated deep-sea hydrothermal vent system. Chemical Communications, 55, 1056–1059.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Inagaki, S., Fukushima, Y. & Doi, H. (1990) Pore-size distribution and adsorption selectivity of sepiolite. Clay Minerals, 25, 99–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ishida, E. H. (2002) Soil-ceramics (Earth), self-adjustment of humidity and temperature. P. 1019 in: Encyclopedia of Smart Materials, Volume 1 and Volume 2. Academic Press, New York, NY, USA.Google Scholar
Kai, W., WeiMin, G. & YunHua, Q.I.N. (2011) The adsorption of volatile aldehydes and ketones in mainstream cigarette smoke by several adsorption materials. Chinese Journal of Spectroscopy laboratory, 28, 1243–1248.Google Scholar
Lan, H.R., Jing, Z.Z. & Li, J. (2017) Influence of pore dimensions of materials on humidity self-regulating performances. Materials Letters, 204, 23–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, J., Zhang, W., Garbev, K., Beuchle, G. & Monteiro, P.J.M. (2020) Influences of cross-linking and Al incorporation on the intrinsic mechanical properties of tobermorite. Cement and Concrete Research, 136, 106170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liang, X.F., Xu, Y.M., Sun, G.H., Wang, L., Sun, Y.B., Sun, Y. & Qin, X. (2011) Preparation and characterization of mercapto functionalized sepiolite and their application for sorption of lead and cadmium. Chemical Engineering Journal, 174, 436–444.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyu, L.Y., Zeng, X., Yun, J., Wei, F. & Jin, F.M. (2014) No catalyst addition and highly efficient dissociation of H2O for the reduction of CO2 to formic acid with Mn. Environmental Science & Technology, 48, 6003–6009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miao, J.J., Jing, Z.Z., Pu, L. & Zhang, Y. (2018) Synthesis of a novel humidity self-regulating material from riverbed sediment for simulating cave dwellings performance. Journal of Building Engineering, 20, 15–20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ozcan, A.S. & Gok, O. (2012) Structural characterization of dodecyltrimethylammonium (DTMA) bromide modified sepiolite and its adsorption isotherm studies. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1007, 36–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarıkaya, Y., Önal, M. & Pekdemir, A. (2020) Thermal degradation kinetics of sepiolite. Clay Minerals, 55, 96–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shang, J., Du, Y.G. & Xu, Z.L. (2002) Photocatalytic oxidation of heptane in the gas-phase over TiO2. Chemosphere, 46, 93–99.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shen, H. (2019) Preparing Environmentally-Friendly Aqueous Antique Decorative Paint, Comprises e.g. Preparing Processed Sepiolite Powder, Mixing Processed Sepiolite Powder with Aqueous Solution of Potassium Permanganate-Reducing Potassium Permanganate. Chinese Patent CN110591481-A.Google Scholar
Schreiner, J., Goetz-Neunhoeffer, F., Neubauer, J. & Jansen, D. (2020) Hydrothermal synthesis of 11 Å tobermorite – effect of adding metakaolin to the basic compound. Applied Clay Science, 185, 105432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Song, Y., Qiao, W. & Yoon, S.H. (2007) Removal of formaldehyde at low concentration using various activated carbon fibers. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 106, 2151–2157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, A., Delacaillerie, J.B.D. & Fripiat, J.J. (1995) A new microporous material – alminated sepiolite. Microporous Materials, 5, 135–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, G., Jing, Z., Cai, L., Zhang, Y., Zhao, W. & Xu, P. (2015) Hardening mechanism of low-temperature (100°C) solidification of clay brick waste containing NaOH. Research on Chemical Intermediates, 41, 1373–1384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, Y., Gong, G.C. & Yu, C.W. (2014) The hygroscopic properties of wood fiber, sepiolite and expanded perlite-based breathable wall for moderating the humidity environment. Indoor and Built Environment, 23, 299–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xu, T.Z., Zheng, H. & Zhang, P.Y. (2018) Performance of an innovative VUV-PCO purifier with nanoporous TiO2 film for simultaneous elimination of VOCs and by-product ozone in indoor air. Building and Environment, 142, 379–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yamaguchi, K. (2012) Humidity Control Decorative Board for Building Materials, Has Base Material Obtained by Forming Slurry Formed Using Sepiolite as Main Material, Sheet-Forming Fiber and Binder Resin, into Sheets. Japanese Patent JP2012012900-A.Google Scholar
Zhang, G.K. (2000) Development of sepiolite type filter tips of cigarette. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology – Materials Science Edition, 15, 49–52.Google Scholar
Zhang, Y., Jing, Z.Z. & Fan, X.W. (2013) Hydrothermal synthesis of humidity-regulating material from calcined loess. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 52, 4779–4786.CrossRefGoogle Scholar