Physicochemical and Mineralogical Characterizations of Two Natural Laterites from Burkina Faso: Assessing Their Potential Usage as Adsorbent Materials

: In the framework of lateritic material valorization, we demonstrated how the geological envi-ronment determines the mineralogical characterizations of two laterite samples, KN and LA. KN and LA originate from the Birimian and Precambrian environments, respectively. We showed that the geological criterion alone does not determine the applicability of these laterites as potential adsorbents but must be associated with their physicochemical properties. The characterizations were carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal analysis, and Atomic Emission Spectrometry Coupled with an Inductive Plasma Source. ICP analyses indicated that the chemical composition of the laterite samples comprised major oxides (SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3) as well as minor oxides (Na2O, K2O TiO2) in KN and LA samples. The major mineral phases obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis coupled with infrared analysis showed that KN and LA laterite samples were composed of hematite (13.36% to 11.43%), goethite (7.44% to 6.31%), kaolinite (35.64% to 17.05%) and quartz (33.58% to 45.77%). The anionic ex-change capacity of the KN and LA laterites ranged from 86.50 ± 3.40 to 73.91 ± 9.94 cmol(-).kg-1 and 73.59 ± 3.02 to 64.56 ± 4.08 cmol(-).kg-1, respectively. The specific surface values determined by the BET method were 58.65 m2/g and 41.15 m2/g for KN and LA samples, respectively. Based on their physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics, KN and LA laterite samples were shown to possess a high potential as adsorbent material candidates for removing heavy metals and/or an-ionic species from groundwater.