The characterization of five different Nigerian clay deposits has been carried out by employing three different characterization techniques (X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Fluorescence and Scanning Electron Microscopy/EDX). The clays obtained from the various deposits were carefully prepared for the analyses and the results obtained were compared to confirm the consistency and reliability of the different methods employed. The results revealed the various desirable (SiO2 and Al2O3) and deleterious (Fe3O4, K2O, MgO, MnO and Na2O) elements and compounds contained in the clay samples in the various proportions and the appropriate purification technique required for preparing the clays for high temperature applications. Consequent upon the identification of the deleterious impurities, oxalic acid at different concentrations was used to leach the impurities out of the various clays. However, three out of the five deposits were chosen for purification because they possess the least quantities of the most deleterious (Fe2O3) of the impurities.
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