Study and physicochemical characterization of materials based on Kaolinite and Biochar
Date Issued
June 2025
Author(s)
Advisor
Abstract
This undergraduate thesis focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and overall study of materials composed of kaolinite and/or biochar. The development and use of materials at the meso- and nanoscale has become an inevitable aspect of everyday life, as their proper utilization contributes to a wide range of useful applications that improve human quality of life, health, and the environment. Kaolinite is an example of a material whose properties - such as thermal properties - are enhanced and improved after transformation from bulk to nanoscale. This transformation can be achieved through chemical, physical, or mechanical methods, including hydrothermal treatment and ball milling. A second example is biochar, a material produced by the pyrolysis of biomass under anaerobic conditions, making it a sustainable raw material. Biomass is defined as “any organic material derived from plants, animals, or organic waste that can be used as an energy source.” In this work, biomass from Aegina pistachio shells was used.
The main objective therefore of the present work was the development of materials based on kaolinite and/or biochar at the meso- and nanoscale, aiming to combine the interesting properties of each material. Composite materials, therefore, could, under well-targeted synthetic conditions, exhibit properties such as increased stability, large specific surface area, high porosity, and potential for further functional modification. The investigation and study of the formed materials were conducted through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The FT-IR technique was used to identify the functional groups of biochar and kaolinite, while XRD enabled the analysis of crystallinity and, where possible, the identification of the formed phases.
The main objective therefore of the present work was the development of materials based on kaolinite and/or biochar at the meso- and nanoscale, aiming to combine the interesting properties of each material. Composite materials, therefore, could, under well-targeted synthetic conditions, exhibit properties such as increased stability, large specific surface area, high porosity, and potential for further functional modification. The investigation and study of the formed materials were conducted through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The FT-IR technique was used to identify the functional groups of biochar and kaolinite, while XRD enabled the analysis of crystallinity and, where possible, the identification of the formed phases.
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Πτυχιακή_Εργασία_Μαίρη_Πάτσαλου.pdf
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