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Minerals
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Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies
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Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2025 | Viewed by 2547

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pollyana Trigueiro

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Guest Editor
Academic Unit of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54589-899, Brazil
Interests: engineering; nanomaterials; soil; mineralogy; drug delivery; agriculture; biology; medicine; biotechnology; pharmacology; adsorption; photocatalysis; pigments; plastics; cosmetics; solar cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ramón Raudel Peña Garcia

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Academic Unit of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Cabo de Santo Agostinho 54589-899, Brazil
Interests: engineering; nanomaterials; soil; mineralogy; drug delivery; agriculture; biology; medicine; biotechnology; pharmacology; adsorption; photocatalysis; pigments; plastics; cosmetics; solar cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Designing efficient nanomaterials for environmental remediation and the treatment of polluted water has been a major focus of research. Clay minerals are valuable in adsorption and photocatalysis due to their unique properties, including their ion exchange capacity, high surface area, sorption capacity, and surface reactivity. Furthermore, clay minerals can interact with various organic and inorganic compounds, altering their structure, functional groups, and surface charge at different pH levels. These interactions can improve the removal of various pollutants, including heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. The versatility of clay materials also enables their use in biotechnological applications, such as drug release, antimicrobials, and ensuring the photostability of organic molecules. This Special Issue of Minerals invites papers, including full-length articles, review articles, and short communications, on the topic of the “Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies”. We welcome studies on recent developments in clay and clay mineral-based materials and invite manuscripts covering a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • New nanocomposites or hybrids derived from clays and clay minerals;
  • Clay/clay mineral-based materials used in environmental remediation;
  • The use of clays, clay minerals, and their derivatives in adsorption applications;
  • The use of clays, clay minerals, and their derivatives in photocatalytic applications.

Dr. Pollyana Trigueiro
Prof. Dr. Ramón Raudel Peña Garcia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clays
  • clay minerals
  • adsorptive materials
  • photocatalytic materials
  • environmental research
  • water treatment
  • nanocomposites

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1571 KB  
Article
Synergistic ZnO–CuO/Halloysite Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin with High Stability and Reusability
by Willams A. Albuquerque, Adilson J. Neres Filho, Yonny Romaguera-Barcelay, Santiago Medina-Carrasco, Maria del Mar Orta, Pollyana Trigueiro and Ramón Raudel Peña-Garcia
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090977 - 15 Sep 2025
Viewed by 585
Abstract
This study focused on creating a novel material by integrating ZnO and CuO nanoparticles into the structure of halloysite using a hydrothermal method. The formation of the nanocomposite was validated through X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis, which confirmed the presence of ZnO and [...] Read more.
This study focused on creating a novel material by integrating ZnO and CuO nanoparticles into the structure of halloysite using a hydrothermal method. The formation of the nanocomposite was validated through X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis, which confirmed the presence of ZnO and CuO phases without compromising the structure of halloysite. Microscopic analysis revealed a well-distributed presence of metallic oxide nanoparticles within the nanotubular structure of halloysite, which adhered to both the outer and inner surfaces of the clay mineral. Optical characterization identified a substantial density of defects, which played a key role in improving the performance of the supported semiconductors. Furthermore, the narrow band gap at 3.02 eV promoted the mobility of photogenerated charges. Photocatalytic tests yielded promising results, demonstrating a synergistic effect between photocatalysis and adsorption processes that positively influenced the removal of ciprofloxacin from solutions. The material achieved up to 76% removal of the antibiotic within 120 min, utilizing a catalyst concentration of 0.5 g L−1 with a pollutant concentration of 20 mg L−1. In reuse experiments, the material exhibited high recyclability even after multiple reaction cycles. Halloysite-based nanocomposites represent a strategic advancement in environmental remediation technologies, contributing to the development of clean, effective, and reusable materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies)
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25 pages, 4002 KB  
Article
Layered Double Hydroxides Modified with Carbon Quantum Dots as Promising Materials for Pharmaceutical Removal
by Fernanda G. Corrêa, Rebecca J. P. Araujo, Vanessa N. S. Campos, Maria do Socorro C. Silva, Elaine S. M. Cutrim, Alex Rojas, Mayara M. Teixeira, Marco A. S. Garcia and Ana C. S. Alcântara
Minerals 2025, 15(9), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090899 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Pharmaceutical contaminants such as ibuprofen are increasingly detected in water sources due to widespread use and insufficient removal by conventional treatment processes. Given its persistence and adverse effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems, efficient removal technologies are needed. This study reports the [...] Read more.
Pharmaceutical contaminants such as ibuprofen are increasingly detected in water sources due to widespread use and insufficient removal by conventional treatment processes. Given its persistence and adverse effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems, efficient removal technologies are needed. This study reports the synthesis of a Mg/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) hybridized with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) via in situ co-precipitation to enhance adsorptive performance. The hybrid (LDH-CQD) was characterized by FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA-DTG, SEM-EDS, BET, and pH in the point of zero charge (pHPZC) analysis. Results indicated a marked increase in surface area (2.89 to 66.9 m2/g), a shift in surface charge behavior (pHpzc from 8.57 to 6.21), and improved porosity. Adsorption experiments using ibuprofen as a model contaminant revealed superior performance of the hybrid compared to pristine Mg/Al-LDH, with a maximum capacity of 22.13 mg·g−1 (% Removal = 88.53%) at 25 ppm, and in lower concentrations (5 and 10 ppm), the hybrid showed 100% removal. Kinetic modeling followed a pseudo-second-order mechanism, and the isotherm was the SIPS model (maximum adsorption capacity = 24.150 mg.g−1). These findings highlight the potential of LDH-CQD hybrid as efficient and tunable adsorbents for removing emerging pharmaceutical pollutants from aqueous media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies)
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25 pages, 13628 KB  
Article
Mechanochemical Treatments of Commercial Vermiculites
by Celia Marcos, Javier F. Reynes and Pedro Álvarez-Lloret
Minerals 2025, 15(4), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15040383 - 5 Apr 2025
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Abstract
This study investigates the mechanochemical transformation of commercial vermiculites from Uganda and China, processed for 30 minutes (30 min), 8 hours (8 h), and 24 hours (24 h). Structural and textural modifications were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), BET surface [...] Read more.
This study investigates the mechanochemical transformation of commercial vermiculites from Uganda and China, processed for 30 minutes (30 min), 8 hours (8 h), and 24 hours (24 h). Structural and textural modifications were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), BET surface area measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Characterization via X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), BET surface area measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed substantial structural and textural modifications. Crystallinity decreased significantly, from 66.37% to 3.47% in the Ugandan sample, whereas the three mixed-phase Chinese samples exhibited greater structural resilience, with final crystallinity ranging from 3.82% to 6.30%. Mechanochemical treatment induced mineral phase transformations, including hydrobiotite formation in the Ugandan sample and Fe3Si, quartz, moganite, and NaMgH3 in the Chinese samples. Particle size reduced significantly, reaching submicrometric dimensions after 24 h, with C1 showing the smallest mean size (0.39 µm). BET analysis showed an initial increase in specific surface area, peaking at 31.83 m2/g for C1 after 8 h, followed by a decrease due to pore collapse. The optimal treatment time varied by sample, with 30 min maximizing adsorption in C2 and C3, while 8 h was most effective for C1. These findings highlight mechanochemical treatment as a viable method for tuning vermiculite properties for applications in adsorption, catalysis, and composite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Clay Minerals in Adsorption and Photocatalysis Technologies)
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