Surface charge on kaolinites in aqueous suspension

Abstract

The surface charge of several natural kaolinites was measured in the pH range 3-10 using an exchange technique. The positive charge was found to increase with decreasing pH and sometimes to increase with increasing ionic strength; it occurred on the kaolinites at pH values as high as 9 and 10 and was particularly evident at high ionic strengths. The positive surface charge on kaolinites is thought to be due to exposed alumina such as is found on oxide surfaces. Aluminium was found to dissolve from kaolinite at pH values beiow about 6.5. Aluminium dissolution increased with decreasing pH and time. When the proportion of dissolved aluminium ions balancing negative surface charge was taken into account, the negative and net negative surface charge on kaolinite was concluded to be largely due to pH independent charge resulting from isomorphous substitution, together with some pH dependent charge due to exposed SiOH sites. If Na+ was the index cation, dissolved aluminium ions from the clay replaced some of the Na+ balancing the negative surface charge. However, when Cs+ was the index cation, less Cs+ balancing the negative surface charge on the clay was replaced by dissolved aluminium. As the concentration of either Na+ or Cs+ was increased, less dissolved aluminium replaced the index cation as a counteraction to the negative surface charge.