An Assessment of some Thermal and Chemical Techniques used in the Study of the Poorly-Ordered Aluminosilicates in Soil Clays

Abstract

Abstract The usefulness of various techniques for characterizing poorlyordered inorganic gel systems in clays is considered. Many established instrumental techniques are unsuitable, but thermal methods, chemical dissolution techniques, and specific surface reactions are more appropriate. The reaction of fluoride with clays is used as an example of the latter and methods for detection and monitoring of the fluoride uptake are described. Its value is demonstrated for studying gel materials in soils and relating them to synthetic alumina-silica gels.