Speaker
Description
Aluminosilicate-based materials, such as geopolymers, have attracted significant attention due to their diverse industrial applications in catalysis, adsorption, and wastewater treatment. Among these materials, aluminosilicate hydrogels, precursors to zeolites, show great promise for advancing sustainable materials. These hydrogels are capable of enhancing soil stabilization and reducing environmental impacts. Characterized as colloidal fractals, they undergo temporal transformations, including syneresis (water expulsion) and crystallization into zeolites, particularly under drying conditions [1]. Despite their potential, the complex mechanisms driving these changes are not yet fully understood, highlighting the need for detailed studies to unlock their full capabilities. A comprehensive understanding and precise monitoring of these dynamic processes are essential for optimizing these materials for eco-friendly applications, in line with the principles of green chemistry aimed at minimizing the environmental footprint of industrial processes.
In this study, to explore these processes, we use Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry, an advanced and non-destructive technique, to monitor water dynamics within these gels with high temporal resolution. We combine global measurements using T2 relaxometry with localized spatial assessments through 1D profiles. This dual approach allows us to capture both large-scale changes in the water status of the material and detailed spatial variations, especially those associated with significant deformation during drying. We also study the aging processes of these gels to investigate how water retention and structural stability evolve over time. Our results demonstrate how environmental conditions, such as drying and temperature fluctuations, influence the porosity and stability of these materials, demonstrating NMR potential to track gel phase evolution under varying conditions.
This approach provides valuable insights into the water dynamics of aluminosilicate gels, enhancing our understanding of their behavior in sustainable applications. By integrating generalized NMR dynamic relaxometry [2], we applied this methodology to various aluminosilicate formulations with different NaOH concentrations, revealing a power-law behavior in the water dynamics. This result underscores the complex relationship between gel structure and water mobility during the drying process. To further investigate this phenomenon, we conducted simulations to explore the underlying mechanisms driving the power-law behavior and its impact on the material properties.
In the future, we plan to extend this methodology to study other bio-based porous materials, from wood to living plants, which play key roles in sustainable construction. By comparing the water dynamics across these materials, we aim to contribute to the advancement of bio-based materials for applications in construction and agriculture sectors.
Keywords: Aluminosilicate hydrogels, NMR relaxometry, water dynamics, sustainable construction, green chemistry, agriculture, zeolites, bio-based materials, soil stabilization, porous media.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Water & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Water |
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