Title: Electrochemical modification of montmorillonitic content and its interplanar spacing in soft rock

Authors: Dong Wang; Jiancheng Song; Zhiping Liu

Addresses: Shanxi Coal Transportation and Sales Group Co. Ltd, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030002, China; Postdoctoral Research Station of Electrical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China ' Postdoctoral Research Station of Electrical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China ' College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China

Abstract: Experimental studies were carried out to examine the electrochemical modification of montmorillonitic content and its interplanar spacing in soft rock. Test samples were wetted with CaCl₂ electrolyte of different concentrations and then modified by direct current at various electric gradients. Measurements were taken of pH values at the anodic, cathodic, and intermediate zones of the modified clay samples. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction studies were carried out on specimens taken from anodic, cathodic, and intermediate zones for their mineralogical contents. The result obtained show with increasing CaCl₂ electrolyte concentration and electric gradient, the montmorillonitic content in the three zones of the soft rock decreases. The newly formed minerals in these zones are calcite, gibbsite, and anhydrite. The montmorillonitic interplanar spacing in the soft rock is altered by electrochemical modification. The d₀₀₁ spacing exponent increases with increasing CaCl₂ electrolyte concentration and electric gradient.

Keywords: montmorillonitic soft rock; electrolyte concentration; electric gradient; interplanar spacing; electrochemical modification; montmorillonitic content; calcite; gibbsite; anhydrite.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2015.067949

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2015 Vol.6 No.1, pp.35 - 45

Received: 21 Feb 2013
Accepted: 15 May 2014
Published online: 10 Mar 2015 *

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