Modelling and optimisation of ageing characteristics of soda activated Na+-bentonites

Abstract

Abstract Sustainability of product quality is important for the consistency of commercial bentonites. Nowadays, this issue is receiving more attention, especially for treated products such as activated bentonites. Even minor changes of process conditions might result in major problems or improvements in final quality in applications such as foundry and drilling muds. The technological characteristics of activated bentonites fluctuate depending on the type of bentonite and the kind and amount of additive and curing time. This study examines variations of the characteristics of activated bentonite with some process parameters and ageing time in order to model and optimise the specifications of activated products for drilling mud and application of geosynthetic clay liner using Response Surface Methodology.