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Physicochemical processes in minerals

Research is aimed at the study of clay minerals and micas in the sedimentary rocks. Besides, the solid particles of micron or submicron sizes are studied with regard to their surfaces interactions in the multicomponent aqueous solutions.

Research of mixed-layer clay minerals and micas by means of infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation is performed with aim to develop a reliable method of clay minerals and micas identification in real samples of sedimentary rocks. As physical and mechanical properties of rocks are closely related to their mineralogy, lessons drawn from the research can be applied in the field of geomechanics and other human activities in the Earth’s crust.

Ion-exchange and sorption processes on micro- and nanoparticles of clay minerals or mineral oxides are studied by means of voltammetry on solid electrodes modified with minerals. The objectives of the research lie in the characterization of phenomena occurring on the surface of separated microparticles in dependence on their size distribution.

Understanding of inorganic natural matrix and its properties and interactions will result in the development of new technologies of soils and rocks stabilization, and possibly also in use of clays in the environment protection.

Voltammetry on electrodes modified by clay minerals serves for the development of electroanalytical methods of determination and speciation of metals in samples of the environment.