ANALYSIS OF SOME NIGERIAN SOILS
ANALYSIS OF SOME NIGERIAN SOILS
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Date
1979-01
Authors
AKANYA, NDANUSA JOHN.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The problems encountered in the analysis of soils, decomposition
of refactory materials and methods of determination of elements are
revealed in a literature survey. On the basis of previously reported
work, Differential Thermal Analysis, X-Ray, Cation Exchange Capacity,
glycol retention properties and chemical analyses have been employed
to identify and quantify the clay minerals and elements present in
each soil sample.
The decomposition of the samples was by sodium peroxide fusion
and the different methods used in estimating the concentration
of the elements in solution are described.
Some Nigerian soils were collected and separately analysed
to determine their elemental and mineralogical constituent.
From the results of Differential Thermal Analysis, montmorillonite
and kaolinite are the dominant clay minerals. This was confirmed
by the results of X-ray analysis. The percentages of montmorillonite
for all the samples lie between (6.1 - 83.4%) while
kaolinite was (50.6 - 100%). Illite was present in four samples
Bakura, Wase, Kongo and Suleiman Hall soils, although its concentration
in each was relatively low (1.9 - 16.3%).
The constituent elements were determined using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer and chemical methods. Generally, the
major constituents for all samples are silica, and aluminium.
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The concentration of silica and aluminium in all the samples are
relatively high, Si02 (43.10 - 51.25%) and Al (4.89 - 10.05%).
The concentrations of Fe are greater in the latcritic and
the Area E soil samples. All such soil samples have low Fe (16.
89 - 22.59%) contents. The Maiduguri black cotton soil has greater
amounts of SiO_ (51.25%) and Al (10.05%). The concentrations of
elements in all other samples follow similar trends.
These results indicate that the kaolinite containing soil
samples could be used for construction works, but because of the
low iron contents of the samples, modifications :may be needed
when used for the production of clay products. These soils cannot
however be economically exploited as sources of iron and aluminium
in the foreseeable future.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
ANALYSIS,, NIGERIAN,, SOILS.