Physico-Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of some Clays from Coastal Sedimentary Basin of Benin used in Ceramic

Abstract

Three sites of Benin’s clays from Gbédji-Kotovi, Massi-Sèhouè and Zogbodomey were characterized in this study. Physicochemical and mineralogical analysis were performed by X-Rays Diffraction, chemical analysis, thermal analyses ATD/ATG, infrared IR, specific surface area and granulometry. Density of clayey particles, capacity of cationic exchange (C.C.E.) and exchangeable bases were also done. It comes out from these analyses that clays of Zogbodomey are essentially kaolinitic while those of Gbédji-kotovi and of Massi-Sèhouè are with smectitic predominance. By its composition the sample of Zogbodomey is constituted by a natural mixture of the elements necessary for the production of ceramic (bricks, tiles, pottery etc). The two others series of samples from Gbédji-kotovi and Massi-Sèhouè will require some kaolinite and sand additions because of their strong proportion in smectite. Thus, they would be more useful in agronomy and environmental protection