Environmental Effects of Micro- and Ultra-microchannel Structures of Natural Minerals

The micro-channels usually refers to structural channels of minerals with aperture in the range of 0.3 nm to 2.0 nm. Such microchannels include, Mn-O octahedron channel filled by K in cryptomelane, and channel constructed by Si-O and AI-O tetragonal molecular sieve filled by Na and Ca in zeolite, and effectively have the function of molecular sieve. Here we point out that ultramicrochannels of natural minerals have apertures below 0.3 nm with the features of ionic sieves. The ultra-microchannels of mineral feldspar, accounting for half mass of the Earth＇s crust, have been largely ignored because the aperture is too small. In this work, we present that feldspar displays a certain degree of ion exchange and owns a feature of channel structure under both high and low temperatures. At high temperature, Na^＋ can enter the channels of feldspars. The content of Na2O in feldspar increases up to 15.9%. At middle temperature, Pb^2＋ can also enter the channels of feldspar as the result of ion exchange, leading thus to the formation of Pb-feldspar. At room temperature, about 97.94% Cd^2＋ can be removed and Cd-feldspar can be obtained. These phenomena indicate typical effects of ultra-microchannels of feldspar, which may be suggested as a potential for the treatment of heavy metal pollution and nuclear waste. The ultra-microchannels of natural minerals have played special role in migration and exchange of geomaterials. The molecular sieves of microchannels of a few natural minerals have the property of purifying molecular gas pollution. And the ionic sieves of ultramicrochannels of most natural minerals can purify ionic water contaminates.

Environmental Effects of Micro- and Ultra-microchannel Structures of Natural Minerals

The micro-channels usually refers to structural channels of minerals with aperture in the range of 0.3 nm to 2.0 run. Such microchannels include, Mn-O octahedron channel filled by K in cryptomelane, and channel constructed by Si-O and AI-O tetragonal molecular sieve filled by Na and Ca in zeolite, and effectively have the function of molecular sieve. Here we point out that ultra-microchannels of natural minerals have apertures below 0.3 nm with the features of ionic sieves. The ultra-microchannels of mineral feldspar, accounting for half mass of the Earth's crust, have been largely ignored because the aperture is too small. In this work, we present that feldspar displays a certain degree of ion exchange and owns a feature of channel structure under both high and low temperatures. At high temperature, Na+ can enter the channels of feldspars. The content of Na2O in feldspar increases up to 15.9%. At middle temperature, Pb2+ can also enter the channels of feldspar as the result of ion exchange, leading thus to the formation of Pb-feldspar. At room temperature, about 97.94% Cd2+ can be removed and Cd-feldspar can be obtained. These phenomena indicate typical effects of ultra-microchannels of feldspar, which may be suggested as a potential for the treatment of heavy metal pollution and nuclear waste. The ultra-microchannels of natural minerals have played special role in migration and exchange of geomaterials. The molecular sieves of microchannels of a few natural minerals have the property of purifying molecular gas pollution. And the ionic sieves of ultra-microchannels of most natural minerals can purify ionic water contaminates.