A new method of Na-activation of raw bentonite, rich in Ca-montmorillonite, consisting of combined thermal treatment at 200 °C, followed by immediate impregnation with aqueous solution of Na2CO3 of concentration corresponding to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clay, was investigated. Structural and compositional evolution of the activated solids after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of storage was monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD analysis indicated that within the investigated period of ageing transformation to Na-rich montmorillonite required Na2CO3 concentration of at least 1.0 CEC. FTIR spectra showed that, depending on the Na2CO3 concentration and ageing time, formation of Na-rich montmorillonite was accompanied by precipitation of poorly crystalline calcite, amorphous calcium carbonate, gaylussite (a double calcium-sodium carbonate), and portlandite (Ca(OH)2).
Keywords: Na-activation; bentonite; dry impregnation; thermal activation.