Minerals

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mokhtar Adel

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Guest Editor

1. Process Engineering Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Relizane, Relizane 48000, Algeria
2. Material Chemistry Laboratory (LCM), Université Oran1, BP.1524 Oran El Menaouer, Oran 31100, Algeria
Interests: layered silicates; nanocomposites; catalysis; adsorption

Dr. Boukoussa Bouhadjar

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Guest Editor

1. Material Chemistry Laboratory (LCM), Université Oran1, BP.1524 Oran El Menaouer, Oran 31100, Algeria
2. Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sciences and Technology Mohamed Boudiaf, BP 1505, El-Mnaouer, Oran 31000, Algeria
Interests: porous materials; nanocomposites; catalysis; adsorption

Dr. Mohamed Abboud

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Guest Editor

Catalysis Research Group (CRG), Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Interests: nanomaterials; mesoporous silica; nanocomposites; catalysis; water treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Layered silicates are natural materials that can be synthesized in a laboratory via hydrothermal synthesis. Compared to clay, these materials may have a higher ion exchange capacity and better chemical stability. The framework for these materials, predominantly comprising SiO4 tetrahedra, offer interesting properties through modifications of the SiOH/SiO interlayer groups.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together current articles concerning the extraction, characterization, identification of properties and the application of layered silicates as well as covering organic and inorganic modification; composite-layered silicate polymers; nanocomposite-layered silicate polymers; film and hydrogel composite-layered silicate polymers; their environmental applications for eliminating toxic substances (e.g., heavy metals, organic pollutants, and atmospheric and pathogenic bacteria); and their application in the pharmaceutical industry as active ingredients and/or to slow, extend or vectorize drug release.

Dr. Mokhtar Adel
Dr. Boukoussa Bouhadjar
Dr. Mohamed Abboud
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

layered silicate
metal-layered silicate nanocomposite
organic-layered silicate nanocomposite
polymer-layered silicate nanocomposite
layered silicate-based membrane
layered silicate-based hydrogel
sorbent-based layered silicate
atmospheric pollution
toxic substance removal
computer simulation
drug delivery

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4412 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Gas Barrier Properties of Multilayer Polymer–Clay Nanocomposite Films: A Multiscale Simulation Approach

by Andrey Knizhnik, Pavel Komarov, Boris Potapkin, Denis Shirabaykin, Alexander Sinitsa and Sergey Trepalin

Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091151 - 30 Aug 2023

Viewed by 900

Abstract

The paper discusses the development of a multiscale computational model for predicting the permeability of multilayer protective films consisting of multiple polymeric and hybrid layers containing clay minerals as fillers. The presented approach combines three levels of computation: continuous, full atomic, and quantitative structure–property correlations (QSPR). Oxygen and water are chosen as penetrant molecules. The main predictions are made using the continuum model, which takes into account the real scales of films and nanoparticles. It is shown that reliable predictions of the permeability coefficients can be obtained for oxygen molecules, which is not always possible for water. The latter requires the refinement of existing QSPR methods and interatomic interaction potentials for the atomistic level of calculations. Nevertheless, we show that the maximum effect on permeability reduction from the addition of clay fillers to the hybrid layer can be achieved by using nanoparticles with large aspect ratios and a high degree of orientational order. In addition, the use of the hybrid layer should be combined with the use of polymer layers with minimal oxygen and water permeability. The constructed model can be used to improve the properties of protective coatings for food and drug storage and to regulate the gas permeability of polymeric materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composites Based on Layered Silicate Minerals: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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Review

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29 pages, 6049 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Recent Advances in Antibacterial Metallic Species Supported on Montmorillonite Clay Mineral: A Review

by Adel Mokhtar, Abderrazzak Baba Ahmed, Boubekeur Asli, Bouhadjar Boukoussa, Mohammed Hachemaoui, Mohamed Sassi and Mohamed Abboud

Minerals 2023, 13(10), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13101268 - 28 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1322

Abstract

This review provides information on the latest advances in inorganic materials with antimicrobial properties based on a metallic species immobilized on the clay mineral montmorillonite realized between the years 2015 and 2023. This class has shown many promising results compared to certain organic agents. Montmorillonite in natural and/or modified forms is a good platform for the storage and release of metallic species, and several researchers have worked on this mineral owing to its cation exchange capacity, low cost, biocompatibility, and local availability. The preparation methods and the properties such as the antibacterial, antifungal, and toxicological activities of this mineral are discussed. The main characteristics of this antibacterial class for the elimination of pathogenic bacteria were examined and the known weak points of its antimicrobial application are discussed, leading to suggestions for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composites Based on Layered Silicate Minerals: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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