APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY, vol.18, no.5, pp.711-717, 2003 (Journal Indexed in SCI)
Mineralogical and sorption capacity characteristics of Ankara Clay, which is widespread around the Ankara region, Turkey, have been studied for the purpose of its potential use as a landfill liner. This clay is Pliocene in age and was deposited in a fluvial environment. Mineralogically it consists mainly of illite, smectite, chlorite and kaolinite minerals. The non- clay minerals, quartz, feldspars, calcite and Fe-Ti oxides are detected. Its cation exchange capacity (CEC) is determined as 41 meq/100 g using the Ag-Tu method. The retention of the heavy metal cations follows the order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Mn2+, Cd2+. These characteristics, together with its known engineering properties, suggest that Ankara Clay can be utilized as a component of a barrier system. These findings also indicate the potential usage of widespread occurring fluvial clays as landfill liners. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.