General Properties and Thermal Behavior of Sepiolite Ore

Abstract

Water is the most important need for life. Many industrial and agricultural activities cause water pollution and affect human and environmental health mutagenic, allergic, toxic and even fatal. In a circular published in the Official Gazette on 16 July 2021, Turkey announced the steps of sustainable economic growth, combating climate change, and transitioning to a resource-efficient and green economy with the 'Green Reconciliation Action Plan'. For water treatment, economical and environmentally friendly methods, which also do not cause secondary pollution, have received more attention recently. The adsorption method has taken its place in many academic studies due to its ease of use, economic and efficiency. Sepiolite, a natural clay mineral with abundant reserves in Turkey and Spain, is a preferred adsorbent thanks to its surface properties. In this article, studies on the adsorption of sepiolite mineral and many substances such as carcinogens, heavy metals, dyestuffs, organic and inorganic impurities were examined. The structure of the sepiolite, its surface properties, thermal behavior, changes in its structure after chemical and thermal activation and the change in its adsorption capacity are explained. It was observed that the efficiency of the adsorption method depends on the relationship between adsorbent and adsorbate. The studies examined generally show that the adsorption capacity increases with the increase of the surface area. As examined in the chemical composition of the sepiolite, it has been concluded that many activation processes for the removal of impurities in its structure affect the adsorption efficiency positively in most studies.