Impermeability and Sorption Characteristics of Overburden in the Extraction of Raw Materials for the Cement Industry

Abstract

This study examines the impermeability and sorption properties of palygorskite and other clays from the Borshchevskoye and Voskresenskoye deposits, which are overburden associated with the extraction of raw materials for the cement industry. Experimental findings demonstrate that the filtration coefficients of the studied samples comply with current regulatory standards, confirming their suitability for use as impermeable barriers for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The palygorskite clay sample exhibited a filtration coefficient of 8 × 10 ^–10 m/sec. Key sorption characteristics of the palygorskite clay sample were also established, including a specific surface area of 85.1 m²/g and specific micro- and mesopore volumes of 0.0138 cm³/g and 0.127 cm³/g, respectively. The efficiency of the clay in purifying individual model solutions under static conditions was evaluated, demonstrating a removal efficiency of > 94% for heavy metals from aqueous solutions and > 60% for petroleum products.