Structural and Morphological Analysis of Untapped Clay Deposits in Itu Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and its Potentials as Raw Material for Petroleum Refining

This work describes scanning electron microscope and XRD characterization of untapped clay deposits in Itu Local Government Area Akwa Ibom State and its potentials as raw material for petroleum refining. The structure and morphology of the raw kaolin clay and metakaolin were analyzed using XRD and SEM. The XRD data indicates 48.0 % quartz, 30.0% kaolinite, 3.0 % chlorite, 16.0 % illite and 2.0% albite in the raw kaolin and 68.3 % quartz, 17.3 % orthoclase, 5.9 % muscovite, 1.8 % illite , 6.68 %, albite in the metakaolin from Ikot Uso Akpan and 16.2 % kaolinite, 67.0% quartz, 2.5 % muscovite, 5.5 % orthoclase, 1.4 % chlorite, and 7.0 % albite were revealed in  Ekim Itam raw kaolin. 66.0 % quartz, 10.0 % muscovite, 15.0 % orthoclase, 5.0 % illite, 5.0 % albite were recorded in the metakaolin. The XRD results confirmed the presence of quartz and alumina mineral phases from both kaolin deposits. Calcination at 1000oC increased the crystalline structure of the metakaolin and did not significantly modify surface morphology of the kaolin indicating stability of kaolin structure, one the desired property of a good zeolite. The SEM results indicated heterogeneous size and spongy like porous shape. There was no significant change in the surface morphology of the heterogeneous size calcined kaolin compared with untreated kaolin.  The SEM results of the metakaolin kaolin also indicated cubic crystalline structure with well-defined edges. With adequate modification the studied kaolin could be a promising raw material for synthesis of zeolite suitable for bio and fossil fuel processing.