Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Shungite Rock of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Physico-chemical characteristics of shugite rocks of Kazakhstan (Bakyrchik deposit) were studied using the methods of elementary analysis, IR-spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray phase analysis. The content of carbon in shungite rock was determined to be from 3% to 19%. The flotation technology for shungite rocks of Kazakhstan was developed, the content of carbon in the concentrate reaching 40.0%. When studying the elemental composition, the mineral part of shungite rocks was stated to be presented, mainly, by silicon, aluminium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron and titanium oxides. IR-spectroscopic investigations showed that in the concentrate, apart from polycyclic hydrocarbons containing methylene groups, there appeared carboxyl groups. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that flotation and thermal activation of shungite rocks on carbon allow obtaining a more developed surface structure and porosity. The structure of shungite carbon was shown by the method of Raman scattering to be close to that of glassy carbon. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) of natural shungite rocks showed that the samples under study contained a carbonaceous substance and a number of mineral components: quartz, illite, bassanite, burgerite, muscovite. It is shown that shungite carbon of “Bakyrchik” deposit is identical to shungite of Zazhogino deposit in Russia. The stated physicochemical characteristics allow to determine the directions of the use of carbon concentrate for solution of ecological and technological problems.

Electrophysical Properties and Structure of Natural Disordered sp2 Carbon

“…A thermoelectric effect has been found in cement composites with shungite carbon. Similar properties are expected for materials filled with disordered carbon from the Bakyrchik occurrence, East Kazakhstan [ 109 , 110 ].…”

Shungite - a carbon-mineral rock material: Its sinterability and possible applications

“…G band is conditioned by stretching pairs of sp 2 bonds in carbon rings and chains, and D band by changes in crystallographic axes La, Lc in carbon chains. The intensity of D band is a measure of structural disarrangement [16]. For investigated Sh-0 powders, bands are observed at 91, 1351, 1582, 2711, and 2943 cm -1 .…”

“…Finally, sample activated for 240 min exhibit nanostructural morphology. Major changes in crystal structure originated from intensive ball-milling are detected trough shifting of Raman intensities toward lower values [16]. Figure 5 presents DTA-TG curves for the nonactivated powder, recorded in air and argon atmosphere.…”