Investigations of clay colloid aggregates by scanning transmission X-ray microspectroscopy of suspensions

The environmental behaviour of colloidal clay in aquatic systems is linked to the properties of their aggregates. Earlier investigations of clay colloids were performed with electron microscope techniques which caused de-hydration of the particles. Information on the structure of colloid aggregates is needed for understanding their sedimentation behaviour, as well as colloid contaminant transport properties in natural systems. Scanning transmission X-ray microspectroscopy successfully produced images of montmorillonite colloid aggregates in a pseudo-equilibrium state in 1 mM NaCl suspensions equilibrated for more than a year. These clay aggregates were revealed at photon energies below the O absorption edges of clay and water. They were spherical or ellipsoidal with diameters of the order of 100–800 nm. The aggregates are porous and gel like with lower densities than the clay mineral. These investigations are important for modelling the occurrence of clay aggregates in aqueous environments.