Application of Biomodified Mineral Amendments in Industrial, Environmental and Agricultural Engineering
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2025 | Viewed by 170
Special Issue Editors
Interests: mineralogical and mineral–chemical characterization of mineral raw materials; relationship of mineral materials and their by-products with the environment; modeling of surface geochemical processes
Interests: clay minerals; diatomite; diatom biogenetic silica; surface properties and structure of minerals; interface reaction; solid acidity of minerals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Clay minerals have been widely employed as soil amendments in various industrial, agricultural and environmental applications. The modification of clay minerals with organic and inorganic compounds has been applied to alter the physicochemical and structural properties of clays to enhance their sorption capacity and, therefore, their effectiveness as amendments. However, many of these modifications are not eco-friendly as they require high-temperature treatments or use chemical compounds that are further released into the environment. Bio-modification refers to the interaction of clays with microorganisms, (such as bacteria and fungi) and is a promising technique for enhancing the properties of primary minerals in an eco-friendly way, simulating a process that already occurs in natural systems. Microorganisms can alter the clay structure and change their physicochemical properties. Mineral dissolution, surface acidification and metal chelation are some of the reactions occurring on the clay surface due to the microbial metabolism. The microbial modified clays are characterized by additional functional groups and increased hydrophobicity, favoring the complexation of toxic elements. Bacteria-modified kaolinite and vermiculite have been tested to enhance the bio-reduction of chromate and arsenate ions, whereas montmorillonite–bacteria composites have been used as sorbents of toxic elements. Additionally, bio-modified clays can regulate the release of nutrients, stimulate microbial activity, and improve the soil pH of acidic agricultural soils. Although most of the studies focus on the remediation of contaminated soils and wastewaters, their applications in agricultural and greenhouse soils should be explored. Based on this scope, this Special Issue of Minerals will focus on the application of bio-modified mineral amendments for industrial, environmental and agricultural purposes.
Dr. Zacharenia Kypritidou
Dr. Dong Liu
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- clay minerals
- biomodification of clay minerals
- mineral amendments
- remediation of contaminated soils
- physicochemical and structural properties of clays
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