Change of water redox potential, pH and rH in contact with magnesium enriched kaolinite–bentonite ceramics

Abstract

It was established that the addition of Mg to the mixtures of kaolinite and bentonite can provide clay compositions which, after sintering at high temperatures, produce very porous ceramics with microcrystalline and amorphous regions of stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric oxides and highly developed metallized surfaces (in this case mainly with magnesium surplus). The ceramics surface exhibited high electrochemical and chemical activity when placed in contact with water. This leads to pH, EROX and rH changes of the treated waters, which can be controlled (magnesium aluminium silicate ceramics reduces or oxidises waters). In fact, with careful planning and appropriate selection of active components of the aluminium silicate ceramics it is possible to build in tailor made electric capacity, electrochemical activity and consequently program their effects on the structure and the content of the waters it interacts with.