PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALUMINA NANOPARTICLES FROM GIRO CLAY VIA ACID LEACHING WITH SOL GEL METHOD
Alumina nanoparticles were synthesized from locally available high alumina clay, obtained from Giro in Kabbi State, through acid leaching with sol-gel method. The clay was leached with hydrofluoric acid and the aluminous solution produced was used as precursor to synthesis nanoparticles through sol gel process. The composition and structure of the clay and the particles produced were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction and fluorescence Spectroscopic techniques, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). From the analyses, the clay sample was observed to be high in alumina and predominantly Kaolinitic in nature. During the sol-gel process, effective flocculation was obtained at slightly alkaline pH range (7.6 to 8.0) and a relative moderate temperature of 80oC. The result also shows that the aging time of the gel affected the size of the particles produced during the process, and the particles are mainly nano-alumina.