Investigation of the microporous and mesoporous structures of the Resadiye(Tokat/Turkey) bentonite and its fractions

It was determined by X-ray diffraction that, besides containing clay minera ls such as montmorillonite and illite, the original bentonite contained als o clinoptilolite, opal-C, quartz, calcite and dolomite, The original benton ite was separated into four fractions by decantation and precipitation from its aqueous suspension. The adsorption and desorption of nitrogen on the o riginal bentonite and its fractions at 77 K were investigated. The specific surface areas of the samples were determined according to the methods of B runauer-Emmett-Teller, de Boer-Lippens, and Harkins-Jura by using the adsor ption data. The mesopore size distribution curves were plotted by using the desorption data. The specific micropore and the specific micropore-mesopor e volumes were determined by the extrapolation of these curves. The correla tion between the specific surface areas and the specific micropore-mesopore volumes is discussed.