Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) as Environmentally Friendly Multifunctional Sorbents

ანოტაცია

The aim of the study was to determine the sorption capacity of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate   (LECA), obtained by high-temperature expansion of natural rocks, and to identify possible fields of their targeted application based on their properties. Four common types of rocks found in various regions of Georgia were selected for the study: zeolite, obsidian, pumice, and perlite. Their chemical composition was determined, and the optimal parameters of thermal treatment were selected, which define their high porosity and, consequently, their sorption capacity. The obtained materials were additionally characterized for their performance properties: bulk density, mechanical strength, and water resistance. By comparing the values of the characteristic parameters, it was determined that the following recommendations can be made: porous materials obtained by expanding pumice and perlite at 1100 °C can be used as sorbents for soil and industrial wastewater purification; foam glass produced by expanding obsidian at 1200–1250 °C can be used for the localization of spilled petroleum products as well as for floating covers of petroleum storage tanks; while zeolite can be used as a gas adsorbent, specifically as a CO₂ adsorbent for flue gases from industrial processes, with the possibility of subsequent waste-free utilization.