Simple and fast process using hydrochloric acid for producing synthetic zinc-rich stevensite

Abstract

In the last decades, clays have been used in sectors such as health and cosmetics. This requires products that are increasingly pure and present homogeneous properties, hardly found in natural clays. The use of synthetic clays can be a solution. For this, it is necessary to explore techniques for their production. The main focus of this study was to synthesize a smectite clay in a simple, fast and economic way at low temperature and pressure, called static and dynamic methods. To regulate the pH of the reaction and bring it closer to the ideal synthesis conditions, two different acids were used: nitric acid (the most widely used in the literature) and hydrochloric acid (more accessible and cheaper). The results showed characteristics of uniform crystalline material with a porous structure similar to that of the smectite group. Small particle sizes of approximately 100 nm were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Stevensite clay was obtained by both synthesis methods using two different acids; the static method with hydrochloric acid stood out. The greater practicality in its development provides a more viable option for large-scale industrial production.