A.N. Vasiliev

Halloysite Nanotubule Clay for Efficient Water Purification

Halloysite clay has chemical structure similar to kaolinite but it is rolled in tubes with diameter of 50 nm and length of ca. 1000 nm. Halloysite exhibits higher adsorption capacity for both cationic and anionic dyes because it has negative SiO2 outermost and positive Al2O3 inner lumen surface; therefore, these clay nanotubes have efficient bivalent adsorbancy. An adsorption study using cationic Rhodamine 6G and anionic Chrome azurol S has shown approximately two times better dye removal for halloysite as compared to kaolin. Halloysite filters have been effectively regenerated up to 50 times by burning the adsorbed dyes. Overall removal efficiency of anionic Chrome azurol S exceeded 99.9% for 5th regeneration cycle of halloysite. Chrome azurol S adsorption capacity decreases with the increase of ionic strength, temperature and pH. For cationic Rhodamine 6G, higher ionic strength, temperature and initial solution concentration were favorable to enhanced adsorption with optimal pH 8. The equilibrium adsorption data were described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.

Interfacial Modification of Clay Nanotubes for the Sustained Release of Corrosion Inhibitors

Long-lasting anticorrosive coatings for steel have been developed on the basis of halloysite nanotubes loaded with three corrosion inhibitors: benzotriazole, mercaptobenzothiazole, and mercaptobenzimidazole. The inhibitors loaded tubes were admixed at 5-10 wt % to oil-based alkyd paint providing sustained agent release and corrosion healing in the coating defects. The slow 20-30 h release of the inhibitors at defect points caused a remarkable improvement in the anticorrosion efficiency of the coatings. Further time expansion of anticorrosion agent release has been achieved by the formation of release stoppers at nanotube ends with urea-formaldehyde copolymer and copper-inhibitor complexation. The corrosion protection efficiency was tested on ASTM A366 steel plates in a 0.5 M NaCl solution with the microscanning of corrosion current development by microscopy inspection and studying paint adhesion. The best protection was found using halloysite/mercaptobenzimidazole and benzotriazole inhibitors. Stopper formation with urea-formaldehyde copolymer provided an additional increase in corrosion efficiency as a result of the longer release of inhibitors.