Controlling the Sorption Activity of Clinoptilolites with Mechanical Activation

— We have studied the effect of the phase composition of clinoptilolite rocks and the specific mechanical energy delivered to samples in a vibratory attritor on their physical properties and oil sorption capacity. Mechanical activation in air has been shown to cause amorphization, transformation of “zeolitic” water into “hydroxyl” water, and an electron density redistribution in the Al–O–Si framework of the clinoptilolite. Milling to a specific mechanical energy of 2.16 kJ/g leads to the formation of molecularly dense aggregates, which shows up as a decrease in specific surface area, demonstrated by BET measurements. An optimal approach for raising oil sorption capacity is mechanical activation of clinoptilolite–stilbite rock in air to a specific mechanical energy of 5.04 kJ/g.