• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.149-158
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was carried out to characterize the 'Kaolinitum' used as mineral medicine before and after physical and chemical manipulation. Methods : The mineralogy of the original raw kaolinitumes with different localities was identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The concentrations of major, minor and trace elements of samples, furthermore, measured by the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). In order to understand the variety of kaolinitum after thermal treatment, the differential thermal analysis (DTA) and the thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out. Results : According to the result of X-ray diffraction analysis, the kaolinitumes are composed ofcalcite, alunite and quartz. Si and Al are the major ions and heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, Ni and Cu are included in the kaolinitumes as trace ions. The concentration of these metals in the samples decreased after physical and chemical manipulation. The weight of kaolinitum was also decreased at $500^{\circ}C$ and about $700^{\circ}C$during experiment of TGA. Conclusion : The results of this study can be used to provide the scientific basis of the medical usage of kaolinitum.