Bentonite is a smectite type clay mineral and swells in water. In this thesis, the effect of acetone, methyl-ethyl ketone, n-hexane on the properties of bentonite was determined by thermal analysis and water absorption tests. The tests indicated no significant change with treating bentonite with organic liquids. Because of the swelling property, only small amount of bentonite can be suspended in water. This may limit certain applications of bentonite. In this thesis, feasibility of suspending large quantities of bentonite in a non-aqueous media was studied. The concentrations for a pumpable high solid bentonite slurry were determined. As aqueous slurry showed pumpable properties up to 30-35 pounds/barrel, this concentration was as high as 125-150 pounds/barrel for acetone, 175-200 pounds/barrel for methyl-ethyl ketone and 325-350 pounds/barrel for n-hexane. Bentonite deposite has a complicated composition, containing free silica minerals, such as quartz, cristobalite, and opal / silicate minerals, such as feldspar, mica, and zeolite / carbonates or sulfates of alkaline earth metals, such as calcite, dolomite, and gypsum / and, in addition, iron compounds and humus. As mined it is primarily broken and dried and then pulverized by means of an attrition grinding machine. In this study dispersion of raw bentonite by high shear blending and shaking forces in the presence of acetone, methyl-ethyl ketone and n-hexane and eliminating the non-clay impurities by screening were studied. Many attempts have been made to provide a bentonite composition retaining the full swelling properties of the bentonite by the addition of non-aqueous liquids for obtaining a flexible waterproofing sheet. In this research the possible method for deposition of bentonite in a sponge by saturating the sponge with bentonite using organic liquids was investigated.

Orientadores: Meuris Gurgel Carlos da Silva, Ronia Marques Oisiovici / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T06:52:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Melo_Cristiane_M.pdf: 1461718 bytes, checksum: a4ff5e71772cb30781695b61478427af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A indústria têxtil possui um dos processos de maior geração de efluentes líquidos, contribuindo quantitativa e qualitativamente com a carga poluidora descartada em corpos hídricos. Em particular, seus efluentes coloridos geram grandes danos ambientais, impedindo a luz solar de chegar até o ecossistema aquático, prejudicando o desenvolvimento da biota e a qualidade da água para consumo. Dentre os tratamentos existentes para a eliminação de cor de efluentes, a aplicação da adsorção em materiais residuais de outros processos e de baixo custo tem se mostrado uma opção eficiente e viável. Neste trabalho foi estudada a remoção de cor de um efluente sintético, constituído pelo corante Solophenyl azul marinho BLE 250%, utilizando a técnica de adsorção em argila calcinada proveniente de Pernambuco. Inicialmente foram realizados ensaios preliminares em banho finito para verificar a melhor temperatura de calcinação da argila em relação à remoção de cor e para determinar os parâmetros cinéticos e de equilíbrio. Após, foram realizados ensaios em coluna, empregando argila calcinada a 300°C e as cinéticas de remoção de cor foram avaliadas por meio de um planejamento fatorial 23 com ponto central. Os fatores estudados foram: concentração inicial de corante, diâmetro médio de partícula e vazão volumétrica, tendo como resposta a quantidade removida Qt (mg corante/g argila). A melhor condição de remoção foi obtida para o nível superior de concentração e níveis inferiores de diâmetro e vazão, correspondendo a um maior tempo de contato entre solução e adsorvente, atingindo o valor de 6,28 mg/g. Ensaios empregando carvão ativado e zeólita clinoptilolita nas melhores condições obtidas no planejamento com argila foram feitos com a finalidade de comparar as cinéticas de remoção dos três adsorventes. Estes adsorventes foram menos adequados que a argila para a remoção do corante estudado. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a melhor eficiência do processo de adsorção nas condições investigadas ocorreu quando aplicada a argila bentonita calcinada a 300°C, que apresentou capacidade de remoção satisfatória, além de ter vantagens no seu custo por se constituir em resíduo gerado em grande abundância na mineração da gipsita / Abstract: Textile industry processes have one of the greatest wastewater productions, increasing quantitatively and qualitatively polluting load discharge in surface water. Colored water result of their process generate great environment damages once they not only reduce the water quality but also block sun light from penetrating in the aquatic ecosystem harming biota development. Within existing treatments for wastewater color elimination, adsorption with low cost residual materiais is an efficient and feasible option. Color removal from synthetic wastewater composed by Solophenyl Navy BLE 250% direct dye was studied using adsorption in calcined bentonite clay from Pernambuco. Preliminary tests were carried out in finite bath seeking best clay calcination temperature as well as to evaluate kinetic and equilibrium parameters. Then, tests in a porous bed were carried out using the clay that had greater affinity with the pigment which was the calcinedat 300°C. Color removal kineticswas evaluated using a factorial design 23 with central points. The studied factors were initial concentration, average grain size and uptake flow rate. The response variable evaluated was uptake capacity Qt (mg dye/g clay). Best removal was obtained with higher concentration, lower diameter and lower flow rate, which correspond to greater contact time between solution and the adsorbent reaching 6,28 mg dye/g clay uptake. Tests using activated carbon and clinoptilolite zeolite in the best conditions reached with the factorial plan with bentonite were done to compare removal kinetic of the three adsorbents. These adsorbents were less efficient than bentonite for the removal of the studied dye. Therefore, the results proved efficiency on bentonite's clay adsorption process and the bentonite calcined at 300°C was pointed out as a potential adsorbent for dye removal with cost advantages due to its mineral waste characteristic in gypsum extraction / Mestrado / Engenharia de Processos / Mestre em Engenharia Química

Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB beslutade 2009 att bygga ett slutförvar av använt kärnbränsle i anslutning till kärnkraftverket i Forsmark. Tekniken för slutförvaret går ut på att omge kapslarna med bentonitlera som skydd mot vatten och bergsrörelser. Studier har dock påpekat att bentonitleran riskerar att kemiskt erodera om jonstyrkan (baskatjonerna) i grundvattnet som omsluter förvaringen blir för låg. Baskatjoner består av natrium, kalium, kalcium och magnesium. Dessa joner är viktiga för bland annat att neutralisera syror i mark och vatten. Förekomsten av dessa har sedan 90-talet minskat men kan påverkas av både ökad nederbördsmängd och ökad temperatur i vissa regioner. Baskatjoner kan lakas ur marken när pH minskar eller komma via deposition från nederbörden. Studien syftar till att utreda vilka faktorer som påverkar dels förekomsten av baskatjoner, dels dess trender i tre olika vattentyper i Forsmark: grunt grundvatten, sjövatten och vattendrag. Dataunderlaget för baskatjonerna kom från Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB och nederbördsmängd och temperatur från Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut. De statistiska testerna som utfördes var främst Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Spearmans rangkorrelation, Mann-Kendalls trend- test och Sen’s slope-metoden. Analyserna har utförts med statistikprogramvaran R och de geografiska med QGIS. Resultatet visade att flera provtagningspunkter låg på en låg altitud och inom samma delavrinningsområde. Det fanns små skillnader i baskatjonskoncentrationen i de tre vattentyperna oberoende av berggrund, jordart eller terräng. Dock återfanns högst koncentration i de flesta fall i grunt grundvatten vilket kunde bero på höga halter natrium från havsvattnet samt kalksten i jordlagren. Korrelationerna var få varav sulfat var den som tydligast visade på ett förhållande med baskatjonerna i alla tre vattentyperna. Inte heller kunde en samvariation med temperatur och nederbörd statistiskt säkerställas. Trenderna visade på minskande koncentration av baskatjoner i grunt grundvatten och i sjövatten. Om dessa trender fortsätter utifrån studiens resultat kan det på sikt finnas en risk för erodering av bentonitleran runt kapslarna till följd av landhöjning och utbyte av det nuvarande bräckta grundvattnet. / The Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company decided in 2009 to build a final repository for spent nuclear fuel in connection with the nuclear power plant in Forsmark. The technology for the final repository involves surrounding the capsules with bentonite clay as protection against water and rock movements. However, studies have pointed out that the bentonite clay is at risk of chemically eroding if the ionic strength of the groundwater surrounding the repository becomes too low. Base cations consist of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These ions are important for neutralizing acids in soil and water. The occurrence of these has decreased since the 90s but can be affected by both increased rainfall and increased temperature in certain regions. Base cations can further be leached from the soil when the pH decreases or come via deposition from precipitation. This study aims to investigate which factors affect the presence of base cations and their trends in three different types of water in Forsmark: shallow groundwater, lake water and stream water. The data set for the base cations came from the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company and rainfall and temperature from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. The statistical tests performed were mainly the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Spearman's rank correlation, Mann-Kendall's trend test and Sen's slope method. The analyzes have been performed with the statistical software R and the geographic ones with QGIS. The result showed that several sampling points were at a low altitude and within the same sub-catchment. There were small differences in base cation concentration in the three water types regardless of bedrock, soil type or terrain. However, the highest concentration was found in most cases in shallow groundwater, which could be due to high levels of sodium from seawater and limestone in the soil layers. The correlations were few, of which sulfate was the one that most clearly showed a relationship with the base cations in all three water types. Nor could a co-variation with temperature and precipitation be statistically ensured. The trends showed a decreasing concentration of base cations in shallow groundwater and in lake water. If the trends continue based on the results, in the long term there may be a risk of erosion of the bentonite clay that surrounds the capsules because of land uplift and replacement of the current brackish ground water.

Bentonite clays are exposed in Paleogene strata stretching over 650 km parallel to the Texas coastline. This study focuses on a white and blue and a yellow and brown commercial Ca-montmorillonite bentonite near the city of Gonzales, Gonzales county, Texas. The deposits have stratigraphic ages of Late Eocene (~36.7 - 32.7 Ma). The bentonites in these deposits have varying colors, purities and brightness affording them diverse industrial uses. The distribution and geologic character of the high purity white and blue bentonite suggests that the deposit represents an accumulation of volcanic ash in a secondary tidal channel during the ash-fall event. A low rate of terrigenous clastic sedimentation and rapid accumulation of fresh ash were critical to the formation of high purity clay. The lower purity yellow and brown bentonites appear to have a fluvial origin marked by higher rates of detrital sedimentation and episodic accumulation of clay and ash. The bentonite and associated strata were studied using optical microscopy, SEM, XRD and REE analyses to constrain their textural, mineralogic, and chemical character. vii Eocene pyroclastic volcanism is well documented from sources in southwestern North America, specifically in the Sierra Madre Occidental (Mexico), Trans-Pecos (Texas) and Mogollan-Datil (New Mexico) volcanic fields. Projected Eocene wind patterns support this region as a potential source for the Gonzales bentonites. A comparison of the trace and REE fingerprints of the white and blue bentonites and the yellow and brown bentonites with data available for Late Eocene volcanics in the North American Volcanic Database provides a couple of potential matches. The strongest potential match for the Late Eocene bentonite protolith is described as a sample of silicic tuff with an age range of 32.2 – 30.6 Ma, located in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. While the trace and REE match is strong, the tuff is somewhat young compared to the Jackson Group sediments. In addition, the sample location is due almost directly south of the Gonzales deposits, rather than the western location expected for a Gonzales bentonite source. The other potential matches are located in New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. These potential matches only have 6 REE available for comparison, and require further investigation. Many Paleogene volcanic units in southern North America are undocumented with regard to REE data or precise absolute ages. As additional geochemical analyses become available for a more extensive suite of Paleogene volcanic units, stronger matches with Gulf of Mexico Basin bentonites are expected to emerge. / text

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-04T19:50:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 IVNA DANIELE SOUZA PEREIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 2113912 bytes, checksum: e7cd84f19623986d5ca5b0df7875190e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-04T19:50:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 IVNA DANIELE SOUZA PEREIRA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 2113912 bytes, checksum: e7cd84f19623986d5ca5b0df7875190e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-29 / Capes / No Estado da Paraíba há grandes ocorrências de minerais não metálicos principalmente de argilas bentoniticas, ball clays, caulins, feldspatos, quartzo, calcários e micas. Recentemente foram descobertos novos depósitos de argilas no município de Sossego, propiciando assim, uma expectativa de ampliação de insumos minerais na região. Assim, este trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar física, mineralógica e tecnologicamente argilas esmectíticas do Município de Sossego, PB, Brasil, para uso em fluidos de perfuração. Para tanto, as argilas foram beneficiadas e caracterizadas através das seguintes técnicas: granulometria a laser (AG), difração de raios-X (DRX), análise química (EDX), capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC), análise termogravimétrica(TG) e térmica diferencial (DTA). Em seguida as argilas foram transformadas em sódicas por meio de tratamento com carbonato de sódio (Na2CO3), hexametafosfato de sódio (NaPO3)6 nos teores: 75, 100, 125 e 150meq/100g de argila seca, além de serem ativadas com a combinações de (Na2CO3) e óxido de magnésio (MgO), em seguida realizou-se o estudo do comportamento reológico das dispersões no intuito de determinar viscosidade aparente (VA), viscosidade plástica (VP), volume de filtrado e pH. Os resultados mostraram que as argilas estudadas eram constituídas de esmectítica, caulinita e quartzo, apresentando teores de MgO e CaO, evidenciando que são bentonitas policatiônicas. Com relação ao uso das argilas como agente viscosificante para fluidos de perfuração, observou-se que as amostras de AM2 ativadas com Na2CO3 atenderam parcialmente as especificações necessária para uso em fluidos de perfuração base água. Já as amostra ativadas com (NaPO3)6 não desenvolveram melhoria nas suas característica reológicas, logo seu uso como fluido de perfuração não é viável. A combinação de Na2CO3 e de MgO produziu um melhoramento nas propriedades dos fluidos produzidos, demonstrando ser aplicável na perfuração de poços. / In Paraíba's large occurrences of non-metallic minerals mainly of bentonite clays, ball clays, kaolin, feldspar, quartz, limestone and mica. Recently discovered new deposits of clays in the city of Sossego, providing an expected expansion of mineral inputs in the region. This work aims to characterize physical, mineralogical and technologically smectite clays Municipality Sossego, PB, Brazil, for use in drilling fluids. For both, the clays were processed and characterized by the following techniques: laser granulometry (AG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical analysis (EDX), cation exchange capacity (CEC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The clays were then transformed into sodic by treatment with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3) 6 in levels: 75, 100, 125 and 150meq / 100g of dry clay, and being activated with combinations (Na2CO3) and magnesium oxide (MgO), then held up the study of the rheological behavior of the dispersions in order to determine apparent viscosity (VA), plastic viscosity (PV), filtrate volume and pH. The results showed that the clays of smectite were formed, kaolinite and quartz, with MgO and CaO contents, showing that bentonites are polycationic. Regarding the use of clays as viscosity agent for drilling fluids, it was observed that the samples activated with Na2CO3 AM2 partially met the necessary for use in water based drilling fluids specifications. As for the sample activated to (NaPO3)6 did not develop improvement in rheological characteristic, then its use as drilling fluid is not feasible. The combination of Na2CO3 and MgO produced an improvement in the properties of the produced fluids, proving to be applicable in drilling wells Keywords: bentonite, rheology, characterization, drilling fluids.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-09T18:53:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CRISTIANE HENRIQUE DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 1882367 bytes, checksum: 61c1cc3ebbf9ac5089a587fe51bfa458 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-09T18:53:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CRISTIANE HENRIQUE DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPG-CEMat 2014..pdf: 1882367 bytes, checksum: 61c1cc3ebbf9ac5089a587fe51bfa458 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-29 / Capes / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a influência da incorporação de argila bentonítica e carbonato de cálcio sobre as propriedades de um fluido de perfuração sintético n-parafina. Para tanto, a pesquisa utilizou argila bentonítica com tamanho de partícula de 45 µm e 75 µm e carbonato de cálcio com tamanhos de partículas nas faixas de 2-44 µm e 2-74 µm para analisar os efeitos da incorporação de sólidos. A análise da influência destes contaminantes foi realizada nas concentrações de 5%, 10% e 15% do volume da amostra de fluido (350 mL) considerados em massa. Para estudar a influência desses contaminantes foram determinadas, em laboratório, as propriedades: densidade, estabilidade elétrica, resistividade elétrica, comportamento de fluxo, viscosidade plástica, viscosidade aparente, limite de escoamento, força gel, volume de filtrado. Além desses ensaios, também foi realizada a caracterização dos contaminantes por meio da análise granulométrica e do teste de ângulo de contato. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o tipo de sólido contaminante exerce diferente influência sobre as propriedades do fluido, sendo a argila bentonítica responsável por maiores efeitos sobre as propriedades reológicas e o volume de filtrado, enquanto que, o carbonato de cálcio exerce maior influência sobre a densidade e a estabilidade elétrica. Mas, de maneira global a argila bentonítica exerce maior influência sobre todas as propriedades. Partículas mais finas causam maior efeito sobre as propriedades estudadas. Com relação aos teores dos contaminantes observou-se que o volume de filtrado é a propriedade que sofre maiores efeitos. Porém, o aumento ou a diminuição de uma ou outra propriedade não ocorre de maneira linear com relação ao aumento do teor de contaminante. / This work presents a study about the influence of the incorporation of bentonite clay and carbonate calcium in n-paraffin synthetic drilling fluids properties. Thus, the research uses bentonite clay with particle size of 45 µm and 75 µm, besides calcium carbonate with particle sizes in the ranges of 2-44 µm and 2-74 µm to simulate the effects of the solid incorporation. The analysis of the influence of such contaminants is performed in the concentrations of 5%, 10% and 15% of the volume of the fluid sample (350 mL) considered by mass. To study the influence of these contaminants the density, electrical stability, electrical resistivity, flow behavior, plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity, yield point, gel strength, and volume filtered properties of the n-paraffin synthetic fluids are measured in laboratory. In addition to these tests, the characterization of contaminants through granulometric analysis and contact angle test is also performed. The results show that the type of solid contaminant exerts different influence on the fluids properties. The bentonite clay is responsible for the greatest effect on the rheological properties and the volume of the filtrated, while the calcium carbonate is more influent on the density and electrical stability. However, globally the bentonite clay exerts greater influence on the all properties. Finer particles cause greater effect on the studied properties. With respect to the concentration of contaminants is observed that the volume of filtrated is the property that suffers the greatest effect. However, the increase or decrease of one or other property does not occur linearly with respect to increasing the amount of contaminant.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-06-14T20:08:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TATIARA GOMES DE ALMEIDA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPG-CEMat) 2015.pdf: 3847734 bytes, checksum: 33a29fced4bd93aef9e1714ea5787ad1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-14T20:08:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TATIARA GOMES DE ALMEIDA – DISSERTAÇÃO (PPG-CEMat) 2015.pdf: 3847734 bytes, checksum: 33a29fced4bd93aef9e1714ea5787ad1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-12 / Capes / O efeito da incorporação, purificação e organofilização de uma carga mineral nanoparticulada (argila bentonítica), nas propriedades mecânicas, térmicas e morfológicas de sistemas PHB poli(3-hidroxibutirato)/bentonita com concentrações de argila variando de 1 a 3% em massa foi avaliado. As argilas bentoníticas nas suas formas natural, purificada por ultrassom e organofílica com sal Cetremide, foram caracterizadas por FTIR e DRX antes de serem incorporadas ao PHB. As composições obtidas foram caracterizadas por difração de raios X (DRX), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e propriedades mecânicas. Os resultados mostraram que a purificação e organofilização da argila foram eficientes. A incorporação da argila organofílica ao PHB provocou um aumento no módulo de elasticidade e armazenamento. As resistências à tração e ao impacto diminuíram com a adição das nanocargas. As propriedades mecânicas dos compósitos foram significativamente afetadas pela exposição prolongada a temperaturas elevadas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a incorporação da argila organofílica ao PHB acelera o processo de degradação térmica da matriz. / The influence of addition, purification and organophilization of a nanoparticulate mineral filler (bentonite clay) on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate)/bentonite with concentrations ranging from 1 to 3% w/w was investigated. Pristine, purificed (sonication) and organophilic (Cetremide) bentonite clays, were characterized by FTIR and XRD before being incorporated into the PHB. The compositions were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical properties. Results showed that the purification and organophilization clay were effective. The incorporation of the organoclay to PHB caused an increase in tensile and storage modulus, while tensile and impact strength decreased with clay addition. Mechanical properties were significantly affected by prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures. Results suggest that the incorporation of the organoclay to PHB accelerates the thermal degradation of the polymer.

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management

MENVM / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / See the attached abstract below

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / In this study, the efficacy of bentonite clay, pre-treated magnesite and their nanocomposite on the removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solution was explored. Batch experimental approach was a technique used to fulfil the goals of this study. A number of operational parameters were optimised, and they include effects of shaking time, adsorbent dosage, initial CR dye concentration, initial solution pH and temperature. Findings of the study revealed that the optimum conditions that are suitable for the removal of CR dye are 20 minutes, 0.5 g of dosage, 120 mg/L, 250 rpm, and pH = 7. This has achieved > 99% removal efficacy of CR dye for the nanocomposite and reduced it to below the South African National Standard (SANS) 241 water quality specifications. Furthermore, kinetic studies revealed that bentonite clay, pre-treated magnesite, and their nanocomposite fitted very well to pseudo-second-order kinetics than pseudo-first-order kinetics. The regression analysis was observed to be 1, 0.9, and 0.9 for bentonite clay, pre-treated magnesite, and their nanocomposite respectively. Adsorption isotherms indicated that CR removal by bentonite clay, pre-treated magnesite, and their nanocomposite fitted well to Langmuir adsorption isotherm than the Freundlich adsorption isotherm hence indicating mono-layer adsorption. Thermodynamic values for CR removal were observed to be: ΔH0 (kJ mol-1) = 43.86, 30.67, and 24.88 for bentonite clay, pre-treated magnesite, and their nanocomposite respectively. This indicates that the reaction is endothermic. The positive ΔS0 (kJ mol-1 K-1) values for bentonite clay and 25 °C for pre-treated magnesite confirms that there is an increase in the degree of randomness at solid/solution interface during the removal of CR ions from aqueous solution. The negative values of ΔG0 (kJ mol-1) for 40 – 70 °C on bentonite and the entire range for the nanocomposite suggest the spontaneity and feasibility of CR adsorption whereas the positive ΔG0 (kJ mol-1) for bentonite clay suggest a non-spontaneous nature of adsorption. As such, pre-treated magnesite/bentonite clay nanocomposite demonstrated superior adsorption capacity in relation to individual materials and other materials reported in literature. / NRF