Analysis And Characterization of Clay Earthy Mineral Aggregate Deposit from Nyeri County for Removal of Nitrates, Phosphates and Heavy Metals from Water

Abstract

It is important to characterize clay minerals in order to be able to determine their applications. Knowing the characteristics of clay minerals can help us to understand their potential use in various fields, such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Characterizing clay minerals can help us to identify the best possible applications for them, which can be beneficial for both the environment and society. To investigate the characteristics of the Nyeri County Clay minerals, various methods were used, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Before the characterization, the clay mineral was calcined at 700°C for 2 hours, then it was hydrothermally treated for 3 hours using an 8M NaOH solution and finally recalcined at 650°C for 2 hours. The paper aims to give suitable remediation for removal of heavy metals phosphates and nitrates in wastewater using natural clay soil.