| Summary: | Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study is to establish a standard procedure for all sedimentary particle
size analysis methods specifically for clay minerals and mixtures thereof. Not only will it
improve accuracy and reproducibility during clay size analysis, it will also secure comparability
between different operators.
As a start, all the apparatus-related parameters that can affect the accuracy and
reproducibility were determined for the apparatus used, viz. the Sedigraph SOOOD. Thereafter,
these parameters were kept constant, and the effects of potential material-related parameters
were investigated one-by-one. First to be investigated were those parameters relating specifically
to sample preparation. They were: grinding intensity, chemical dissolution of cementing
materials, duration of prior soaking, salt content, centrifugal washing with polar organic liquids,
deflocculant type and concentration, the effect of pH, ultrasonic time, and stirring during
ultrasonic treatment.
Then, the influence on accuracy and reproducibility of the physical and chemical parameters
related to the suspension was determined. They were: the use of the viscosity and density of
water to calibrate the apparatus in stead of those of the suspension liquid, hydrolysis of the
deflocculant with suspension-ageing, and the effect of solid concentration on hindered settling.
During this investigation a novel method was developed to enable faster and more accurate
pycnometric density determinations.
Next, the unique characteristics of clays, which can influence the results of sedimentary
particle size analyses, were examined. Serious problems are encountered with the accuracy of the
analyses of some clay types abundantly found in nature, viz. the smectites and mixed-layered
clay minerals. Due to their swelling in water, and variations in the amounts of their crystal
layers, they experience unpredictable changes in particle size. The latter is caused by the
following external factors: clay type, humidity, type of exchange cation, electrolyte
concentration, clay concentration, pH, deflocculant type and concentration, pressure history of
the swell-clay suspension, and ageing of the suspension. The effect of each of them on the
accuracy and reproducibility of the sedimentary particle size analysis of clays are investigated in
detail.
Another problem that influences the accuracy of the sedimentary methods is that owing to swelling, the densities of smectites and mixed-layered clays change by varying degrees when
suspended in water. It is, however, impossible to pycnometrically determine the density of a
swell-clay since it absorbs a part of the water used for its volume determination. To solve this
problem, a novel method was devised to calculate swell-clay density. This method makes use of
existing Monte Carlo simulations of the swelling mechanism of montmorillonite.
During all sedimentary methods, an average clay density is normally used to calculate the
particle size distribution of clay mixtures. However, if there is a large enough difference between
the calculated average density and that of a component, then inaccurate results will be recorded.
The magnitude of this effect was investigated for a few self-made clay mixtures, which consisted
of different proportions of kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite.
Based on all the above results, a practical approach to, and a standard methodology for all
the sedimentary methods of particle size analysis of clay minerals are presented. Additionally, a
condensed summary is provided in table-form, which contains the magnitudes of the errors
associated with each of the parameters that were examined. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n standaard prosedure daar te stel vir alle sedimentêre
metodes van partikelgrootte analise, spesifiek vir gebruik met kleiminerale en mengsels daarvan.
So 'n standaard prosedure sal die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van klei-analises verbeter, en
die vergelykbaarheid tussen verskillende operateurs verseker.
Aanvanklik is slegs die parameters bepaal wat die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die
gekose apparaat (Sedigraph 5000D) kan beïnvloed. Daarna is al hierdie parameters konstant
gehou, en is die potensiële effekte van die moontlike materiaal-verwante parameters een na die
ander ondersoek. Eerstens is die invloed van monstervoorbereiding op akkuraatheid en
herhaalbaarheid bepaal. Verskillende parameters nl. maal-intensiteit, chemiese oplossing van
sementerende materiale, sentrifugale wassing met polêre organiese vloeistowwe, tipe ontvlokker
en konsentrasie, die effek van pH, ultrasoniese tyd en die effek van roer tydens ultrasonikasie is
ondersoek.
Vervolgens is die invloed op die akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die fisiese en
chemiese parameters verwant aan die suspensie bepaal. Hierdie parameters was nl. die gebruik
van die viskositeit en digtheid van water in plaas van dié van die suspensievloeistof, hidrolise
van die ontvlokker tydens suspensieveroudering, asook die effek van vastestof-konsentrasie op
belemmerde uitsakking. Gedurende hierdie ondersoek is ook 'n nuwe metode ontwikkel wat
vinniger, en meer akkurate piknometriese digtheidsbepalings moontlik maak.
Die unieke eienskappe van kleie wat die resultate van sedimentêre metodes van
partikelgrootte analises kan beïnvloed, is volgende ondersoek. Tydens die analises van party
kleie wat baie volop in die natuur voorkom, nl. die smektiete en menglaag-kleie, word ernstige
akkuraatheids-probleme ondervind. Hul swelling in water, tesame met variasies in hul aantal
kristal-lagies, veroorsaak onvoorspelbare verandering van hul partikelgroottes. Laasgenoemde
word deur die volgende eksterne faktore veroorsaak: klei tipe, humiditeit, tipe uitruil-katioon,
elektrolietkonsentrasie, kleikonsentrasie, pH, ontvlokker-tipe en konsentrasie, drukgeskiedenis
van 'n swelklei-suspensie, en veroudering van die suspensie. Die effek van elk op die
akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid van die sedimentêre partikelgrootte analises van kleie word in
detail bespreek.
'n Verdere probleem wat die akkuraatheid van sedimentêre metodes beïnvloed, is dat wanneer smektiete en menglaag-kleie in water gesuspendeer word, hulle digthede in verskillende
mates weens swelling verander. Dit is egter onmoontlik om die digtheid van swelkleie in water
piknometries te bepaal, omdat swelklei 'n gedeelte van die water absorbeer wat gebruik moet
word om die kleivolume mee te bepaal. Om hierdie probleem op te los, is 'n nuwe metode
ontwikkelom die digtheid van swelkleie mee te bereken. Die metode maak gebruik van reedsbestaande
Monte Carlo simulasies van die swelling van montmorillonite.
Tydens alle sedimentêre metodes word normaalweg van 'n gemiddelde kleidigtheid gebruik
gemaak om die partikelgrootte-verspreiding van kleimengsels mee te bereken. Indien die
berekende gemiddelde digtheid egter genoegsaam met dié van 'n kleikomponent verskil, sal
onakkurate resultate verkry word. Hierdie effek is ondersoek vir 'n paar selfgemaakte
kleimengsels wat uit verskillende hoeveelhede kaoliniet, illiet, en montmorilloniet bestaan het.
Laastens word 'n praktiese benadering en 'n standaard metode vir alle sedimentêre metodes
voorgestel, wat gebaseer is op al die bogenoemde resultate. 'n Verkorte opsomming, met die
groottes van die foute geassosieer met elke parameter wat ondersoek is, word laastens in
tabelvorm verskaf.
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