Dimova L., Petrov O., Kadiyski M., Lihareva N., Stoyanova-Ivanova A., Mikli V.
Clay Minerals, June 2011, Vol. 46, N. 2, p. 205-212
DOI: 10.1180/claymin.2011.046.2.205© 2011 Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Abstract
Fully exchanged Ag-clinoptilolite prepared at 100°C using 1M solution of AgNO3 was studied. The initial sample (Beli Plast deposit, Bulgaria) was enriched in clinoptilolite by a sequence of treatments – crushing, sieving, sedimentation, and separation with heavy liquids to obtain a content of about 93 wt.% of clinoptilolite intergrown with opal-C. Opal-C was subsequently removed by chemical treatment. Maximum cation exchange was reached on the seventh day (4.86(4) Ag atoms per formula unit). Rietveld structural refinement was then carried out on the Ag-exchanged clinoptilolite, and three independent Ag sites were localated in the channels of the clinoptilolite structure. Seven water sites, coordinating the Ag sites, were located. Ag-clinoptilolite is, potentially, a promising low-cost antibacterial material.
