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Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 27321

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Prof. Dr. Tomasz Bajda

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Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, Poland
Interests: functionalized mineral materials; sorption; zeolites; clay minerals,; organominerals; fly ashes; apatites
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Dr. Jakub Matusik

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Guest Editor

Department of Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: clays and clay minerals; layered double hydroxides (LDHs); zeolites; organominerals; advanced adsorbents; mineral-based composites; mineral-based structures for wastewater purification and remediation; polymer–mineral nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid progress of technology and the emergence of new materials with special properties have created a flourishing field of research in materials science. The unique physicochemical properties of materials can generate effective solutions to challenging environmental and technological problems. As a result of this approach, a large number of techniques have been developed that enable obtaining novel materials with specific and reproducible properties and parameters. Mineral materials occupy a special place, thanks to the natural diversity of their properties. This opens the possibility for their use in many applications. An undisputed advantage is their high availability on the Earth's surface. Moreover, very often there is no need to modify the properties of natural mineral resources. It is crucial to perceive a specific feature of the mineral that allows its particular use. In other cases, improvement of properties through physical or chemical treatment is sufficient to obtain a functional mineral material for use in many industries, such as environmental and civil engineering, ceramics, foundry, and metals.

This Special Issue, collecting topics of interdisciplinary studies, aims to provide the current top trends in the functionalization techniques of mineral materials for specific applications. Additionally, reports on the unique properties of functionalized materials and their characterization with dedicated analytical methods are welcome.

We do believe that this collection will contribute to the development of functionalization techniques of minerals and will become the source of new ideas for the design, synthesis, and use of mineral-based materials.

Prof. Dr. Tomasz Bajda
Dr. Jakub Matusik
Guest Editors

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Keywords

mineral materials
functionalization
sorption
catalysts
ceramics
foundry
metals
mesoporous materials
analytical methods
intercalation
grafting
thermal treatment
pillaring

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 163 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Functionalised Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundries and Metals

by Tomasz Bajda

Materials 2022, 15(22), 8107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228107 - 16 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1353

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in functionalised mineral materials in terms of both scientific research and the development of the world economy [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

Research

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19 pages, 3851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Characterization of Ukrainian Volcanic Tuffs from the Khmelnytsky Region with the Theoretical Analysis of Their Application in Construction and Environmental Technologies

by Yuliia Trach, Victor Melnychuk, Magdalena Maria Michel, Lidia Reczek, Tadeusz Siwiec and Roman Trach

Materials 2021, 14(24), 7723; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247723 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

(1) The mineral deposits are the base resources of materials used in building and environmental engineering applications, especially available locally. Two wells of volcanic tuff deposits in the Khmelnytsky region of Ukraine were investigated in this regard. (2) Physical-mechanical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses of the core samples were carried out. (3) The tuff samples were characterized by visible colour, low compressive strength (4.34–11.13 MPa), and high water absorption (30%). The dominant minerals of the upper horizon were chlorite, pyroxene, kaolinite, quartz, hematite, and calcite, while those of the lower horizon included analcime, quartz, hematite, and calcite. (4) The studied volcanic tuffs seem to be only partly useful for construction applications, and considering their visible colour, the exterior decoration of engineering objects could be possible. The peculiarity of the minerals of the upper horizon is that their crystals consist of Fe²⁺. An analysis of existing scientific data made it possible to say that these minerals can be considered as an alternative to expensive metallic iron in reducing the toxicity of chromium, uranium, and halogenated organic compounds. The significant presence of hematite allows the application of tuffs to technologies of water purification from As⁵⁺, As³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cr³⁺, U⁶⁺, Sb⁵⁺, and Se⁴⁺ oxyanions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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21 pages, 23102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Characterization and Anti-Biofilm Effectiveness of Hybrid Films of Polyurethane Functionalized with Saponite and Phloxine B

by Nitin Chandra Teja Dadi, Juraj Bujdák, Veronika Medvecká, Helena Pálková, Martin Barlog and Helena Bujdáková

Materials 2021, 14(24), 7583; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14247583 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2720

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to synthesize composites of polyurethane (PU) with organoclays (OC) exhibiting antimicrobial properties. Layered silicate (saponite) was modified with octadecyltrimethylammonium cations (ODTMA) and functionalized with phloxine B (PhB) and used as a filler in the composites. A unique property of composite materials is the increased concentration of modifier particles on the surface of the composite membranes. Materials of different compositions were tested and investigated using physico-chemical methods, such as infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, contact angle measurements, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy in the visible region. The composition of an optimal material was as follows: n_ODTMA/m_Sap = 0.8 mmol g⁻¹ and n_PhB/m_Sap = 0.1 mmol g⁻¹. Only about 1.5% of present PhB was released in a cultivation medium for bacteria within 24 h, which proved good stability of the composite. Anti-biofilm properties of the composite membranes were proven in experiments with resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The composites without PhB reduced the biofilm growth 100-fold compared to the control sample (non-modified PU). The composite containing PhB in combination with the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) reduced cell growth by about 10,000-fold, thus proving the significant photosensitizing effect of the membranes. Cell damage was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. A new method of the synthesis of composite materials presented in this work opens up new possibilities for targeted modification of polymers by focusing on their surfaces. Such composite materials retain the properties of the unmodified polymer inside the matrix and only the surface of the material is changed. Although these unique materials presented in this work are based on PU, the method of surface modification can also be applied to other polymers. Such modified polymers could be useful for various applications in which special surface properties are required, for example, for materials used in medical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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16 pages, 3030 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iron-Based Water Treatment Residuals: Phase, Physicochemical Characterization, and Textural Properties

by Magdalena Likus, Małgorzata Komorowska-Kaufman, Alina Pruss, Łukasz Zych and Tomasz Bajda

Materials 2021, 14(14), 3938; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143938 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2530

Abstract

Groundwater treatment residuals (GWTRs) are safe waste materials generated during drinking water treatment. GWTRs are mainly deposited in landfills, but the preferred solution should be reused or utilized for some components. To ensure proper sludge management, it is important to provide quality, chemical composition, and texture characteristics of GWTRs. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate and compare the features of GWTRs collected from four water treatment plants. GWTRs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD); scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS); Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); thermogravimetric, differential thermogravimetric, and differential thermal analysis (TG, DTG, and DTA, respectively); X-ray fluorescence (XRF); inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OEP); specific surface area (S_BET) measurement; and determination of the isoelectric point (pH_IEP). According to the results, GWTRs are poor crystalline materials that are predominantly composed of ferrihydrite with minor calcite and quartz admixture. They formed heterogeneously mixed particles with irregular shapes. They were mainly composed of iron oxides (32–55%), silica (4–28%), calcium oxide (4–17%), and manganese oxides (0.3–4.0%). They were found to be mesoporous with a large specific surface area. Due to their composition and texture characteristics, GWTRs demonstrate good adsorption properties toward different compounds such as heavy metals and metalloids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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9 pages, 23225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Sulfur Precursor on the Hydrothermal Synthesis of Cu₂MnSnS₄

by Edyta Waluś, Maciej Manecki, Grzegorz Cios and Tomasz Tokarski

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133457 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1857

Abstract

Cu₂MnSnS₄ (CMTS) is acknowledged as an alternative to traditional semiconductors. The structure and microstructure of synthetic CMTS depend on, among other things, the types of sulfur sources used. Traditionally obtained CMTS mostly has a tetragonal structure. In this study, the effect of using thiourea (Tu) or Na₂S as a sulfur source on the product structure was compared using hydrothermal synthesis at 190 °C for 7 days (ethylene glycol with water in the presence of poly(vinylpyrollidone) was used as a solvent). When Tu was used, CMTS precipitated in the form of concentric microspheres, 1–1.5 µm in size, consisting of hexagonal (in the cores) and tetragonal (the rims) forms. Most probably, the rapidly formed hexagonal nucleus was later surrounded by a slower-forming rim with a tetragonal structure. In contrast, when Na₂S was used as a precursor, microspheres were not formed and a fine crystalline material with a homogeneous tetragonal structure was obtained. This allowed for the choice of micromorphology and product structure during synthesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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26 pages, 17403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decoding Rocks: An Assessment of Geomaterial Microstructure Using X-ray Microtomography, Image Analysis and Multivariate Statistics

by Piotr Jan Strzelecki, Anna Świerczewska, Katarzyna Kopczewska, Adam Fheed, Jacek Tarasiuk and Sebastian Wroński

Materials 2021, 14(12), 3266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123266 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

An understanding of the microstructure of geomaterials such as rocks is fundamental in the evaluation of their functional properties, as well as the decryption of their geological history. We present a semi-automated statistical protocol for a complex 3D characterization of the microstructure of granular materials, including the clustering of grains and a description of their chemical composition, size, shape, and spatial properties with 44 unique parameters. The approach consists of an X-ray microtomographic image processing procedure, followed by measurements using image analysis and statistical multivariate analysis of its results utilizing freeware and widely available software. The statistical approach proposed was tested out on a sandstone sample with hidden and localized deformational microstructures. The grains were clustered into distinctive groups covering different compositional and geometrical features of the sample’s granular framework. The grains are pervasively and evenly distributed within the analysed sample. The spatial arrangement of grains in particular clusters is well organized and shows a directional trend referring to both microstructures. The methodological approach can be applied to any other rock type and enables the tracking of microstructural trends in grains arrangement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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9 pages, 2192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Properties and Toxicity Risks of Lead-Zinc Sulfide Tailing-Based Construction Materials

by Yang Zhou, Xinlian Duan, Tao Chen, Bo Yan and Lili Li

Materials 2021, 14(11), 2940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14112940 - 29 May 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2569

Abstract

The leaching residue of the lead–zinc sulfide tailing (LRT) is the only residue generated from the tailing leaching recovery process; it is a typical hazardous material for its high heavy-metal contents and high acidity. Due to the large output of LRT, and because its main components are Ca, Si, and Al, the preparation of building construction materials with LRT was studied. The results showed that when the LRT addition is less than 47%, with the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and fly ash (FA) added and the curing conditions appropriate, the strength values of the tested specimens meet the M15 Class of the autoclaved lime sand brick standard (GB/T 16753-1997). The carbonization coefficient and drying shrinkage of the specimen were 0.79 and smaller than 0.42, respectively. As the SEM, TG, and XRD analysis have shown, the LRT can chemically react with additives to form stable minerals. The heavy metal contents that were leached out well met the limits in GB5085.3-2007. Based on the high addition of the LRT, the good strength and lower heavy metals were leached out of the prepared test specimen, and the tailing could be reused completely with the leaching recovery and the LRT reuse process. LRT can be used to replace OPC, allowing more sustainable concrete production and improved ecological properties of LRT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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18 pages, 4257 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Cavitated Charcoal—An Innovative Method for Affecting the Biochemical Properties of Soil

by Krzysztof Gondek, Monika Mierzwa-Hersztek, Wojciech Grzymała, Tomasz Głąb and Tomasz Bajda

Materials 2021, 14(9), 2466; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092466 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2182

Abstract

Thermal biomass transformation products are considered to be one of the best materials for improving soil properties. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of charcoal after cavitation on the chemical and biochemical properties of soil. The study was carried out with a 10% aqueous charcoal mixture that was introduced into loamy sand and clay at rates of 1.76%, 3.5%, 7.0%, and 14.0%. The effect of the application of cavitated charcoal was tested on Sorghum saccharatum (L.). Soil and plant material was collected to determine chemical and biochemical properties. The application of cavitated charcoal reduced the acidification of both soils. The highest rate (14.0%) of cavitated charcoal increased the content of soil total carbon (C_Tot) by 197% in the loamy sand compared to C_Tot in the control treatments, 19% for clay soil, respectively. The application of cavitated charcoal did not significantly change the total content of heavy metals. Regardless of the element and the soil used, the application of cavitated charcoal reduced the content of the CaCl₂-extracted forms of heavy metals. Following the application of cavitated charcoal, the loamy sand soil presented an even lower content of the most mobile forms of the studied elements. It should also be noted that regardless of the soil texture, mobile forms of the elements decreased with the increased cavitated charcoal rate. The results of dehydrogenase and urease activity indicated the low metabolic activity of the microbial population in the soils, especially with the relatively high rates (7.0% and 14.0%) of cavitated charcoal. However, the cavitated charcoal used in the study showed a significant, positive effect on the amount of biomass S. saccharatum (L.), and its application significantly reduced the heavy metal content in the biomass of S. saccharatum (L.). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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Review

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38 pages, 3772 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Removal of Pesticides from Waters by Adsorption: Comparison between Synthetic Zeolites and Mesoporous Silica Materials. A Review

by Magdalena Andrunik and Tomasz Bajda

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133532 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4088

Abstract

Pesticides are pollutants found in wastewater due to increasing agricultural activities over the years. Inappropriate dosing of pesticides results in the dispersal of active ingredients in the environment. The complete removal of pesticides from wastewater is an immediate concern due to their high toxicity and mobility. At present, adsorption is one of the most widely used methods for pesticide removal, in which synthetic zeolites and mesoporous silica materials are extensively applied. This article presents a systematic and comparative review of the applications and comparison of these adsorbents, based on the data reported in the literature. The paper summarizes the information collected from various studies, including the type of adsorbents and pesticides used, experimental conditions, and results of each work. The studies analyzed were laboratory-based and show potential advantages for the treatment of pesticide-bearing waters using functionalized and unfunctionalized synthetic zeolites and mesoporous silica materials. As a whole, functionalized materials are reported to exhibit better removal performance for different pesticides than conventional materials. It is expected that the results of this review will help researchers to establish a powerful strategy for the abatement of pesticides in wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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Other

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15 pages, 3054 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceOpinion

Geopolymer Foams—Will They Ever Become a Viable Alternative to Popular Insulation Materials?—A Critical Opinion

by Michał Łach

Materials 2021, 14(13), 3568; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133568 - 25 Jun 2021

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 4262

Abstract

Over the last several years, there has been a large increase in interest in geopolymer materials, which are usually produced from waste materials, and their applications. The possibilities of application of geopolymers seem to be unlimited, and they are used in almost all fields of technology. Their use as insulation materials appears promising due to their complete nonflammability and excellent strength. However, one limitation is their complex manufacturing process and lack of stability of the obtained geopolymer foams as well as difficulties in achieving such good insulation properties possessed by polyurethane foams, polystyrene, and wool. Hundreds of studies have already been performed on insulating geopolymer foams and various types of foaming agents, and their authors reported that foamed insulating geopolymers had a density starting from 200 kg/m³ and thermal conductivity from 0.04 W/mK. However, the repeatability of the obtained results on an industrial scale is questionable. It is still a challenge to obtain a geopolymer material with comparable properties as conventional insulation materials and to overcome the barriers associated with the successful implementation of geopolymer material as insulation in buildings and other applications on a mass scale. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the methods used for the production of foamed geopolymers and the best parameters obtained, as well as a summary of the most important information reported in the scientific literature. It also presents the results of a critical analysis of the feasibility of implementing this technology for mass deployment. In addition, the problems and limitations that are most often encountered with the implementation of geopolymer technology are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalized Mineral Materials in Environmental and Civil Engineering, Ceramics, Foundry and Metals)

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