Preparation and Mineralogical, Spectroscopic and Granulometric Characterization of a Natural Adsorbent Based on a Mixture of Shells from Mehdia Beaches (Morocco)

Abstract

During this study, we realized the preparation of an adsorbent based on shellfish taken from different areas of the beach of Mehdia (Morocco), and then we carried out their characterization by quantitative (XRD), qualitative (FTIR), optical (SEM-EDS) and granulometric analyses. The results obtained during this study show the shellfish studied is composed of the main minerals such as aragonite (68%) and calcite (32%) while an absence of vaterite. In addition, it shows that the crystalline structure of these shells is mainly composed of two polymorphs of calcium carbonate, namely calcite (CaCO3 (90.7%)) and aragonite (CaCO3 (43.9%)) of better stability. Moreover, they have shown that these calcium carbonates have an extensive porous structure with a specific surface consisting of a heterogeneous layer characterized by rounded particles and other mineral traces. This allows these carriers be used to as adsorbents applied in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater before discharge into the receiving environment.