ORIGINAL PAPER
The influence of thermal and acid modification on the potential application of Jegłowa kaolin in cosmetic formulations
1
University of Warsaw, Faculty of Geology
Submission date: 2026-02-03
Final revision date: 2026-05-11
Acceptance date: 2026-05-15
Publication date: 2026-06-14
Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi – Mineral Resources Management 2026;42(2):181-200
KEYWORDS
Jegłowa kaolincosmetic application of claysacid activationthermal modificationmicrobiological quality
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to develop a clay-based mineral material with enhanced sorption properties suitable for application as an active ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Kaolin samples from the Jegłowa deposit were subjected to structural modifications through thermal treatment at 300, 600, and 900°C, as well as acid activation using a 4 M HCl solution. The resulting materials were assessed for microbiological quality in accordance with the ISO/DIS 17516 standard. In addition, mineralogical composition (X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis), specific surface area, pore structure, and sorption properties (gas porosimetry, SEM) were characterized to evaluate the influence of the type and intensity of modification on the functional properties of kaolin.
Thermal modification at 600°C induced decomposition processes, resulting in a reduction in structural order and a decrease in specific surface area, which consequently limited the material’s sorption capacity. In contrast, acid activation led to a significant increase in the specific surface area of kaolin, which is advantageous for sorption processes occurring at the interface between the modified clay material and the epidermal layers. Microbiological analyses revealed that unmodified kaolin samples did not meet the requirements specified in the PN-EN ISO 17516 standard. Satisfactory microbiological quality was achieved exclusively in samples subjected to combined thermal and acid modification. Based on these results, it was concluded that unmodified Jegłowa kaolin can be incorporated into cosmetic formulations only in combination with antimicrobial agents to ensure compliance with microbiological quality requirements of the final product.
FUNDING
This work was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for scientific and research services no. 501-D113-72-9999999-1130000 and by subsidy no. 501-D113-01-1130101 and 501-D113-01-1130105.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Wpływ modyfikacji termicznej i aktywacji kwasowej kaolinu z Jegłowej na możliwości aplikacji w przemyśle kosmetycznym
kaolin z Jegłowa, surowce ilaste w kosmetyce, aktywacja kwasowa, modyfikacja termiczna, jakość mikrobiologiczna
Celem badań było otrzymanie mineralnego materiału ilastego o podwyższonych właściwościach sorpcyjnych, umożliwiających jego zastosowanie jako składnika aktywnego w formulacjach kosmetycznych. Próbki kaolinu pochodzące ze złoża Jegłowa zostały poddane modyfikacjom strukturalnym obejmującym: modyfikację termiczną w temperaturach 300°C, 600°C i 900°C oraz aktywację kwasową z zastosowaniem 4 M HCl. Uzyskane materiały poddano ocenie czystości mikrobiologicznej zgodnie z wymaganiami międzynarodowej normy ISO/DIS 17516. Określono zmiany w składzie mineralnym (XRD, TA), powierzchni właściwej, strukturze porowatej oraz potencjale sorpcyjnym (porozymetria gazowa, SEM), co pozwoliło na ocenę wpływu rodzaju modyfikacji na właściwości funkcjonalne kaolinu. Modyfikacja termiczna w 600°C spowodowała procesy dekompozycji termicznej. Zmiany te skutkowały redukcją uporządkowania strukturalnego minerału oraz zmniejszeniem powierzchni właściwej, co ograniczało jego potencjał sorpcyjny. Aktywacja kwasowa doprowadziła do znacznego zwiększenia powierzchni właściwej kaolinu, co jest korzystne dla procesów sorpcyjnych zachodzących w kontakcie epidermy ze zmodyfikowanym surowcem ilastym.
Wyniki analizy czystości mikrobiologicznej wykazały, że próbki kaolinu niemodyfikowanego nie spełniały wymagań określonych w normie PN-EN ISO 17516. Wysoki poziom czystości mikrobiologicznej uzyskano jedynie w przypadku próbek materiału modyfikowanego, zarówno termicznie, jak i kwasowo. Na tej podstawie stwierdzono, że kaolin Jegłowa w postaci niemodyfikowanej może być stosowany w formulacjach kosmetycznych wyłącznie w połączeniu ze środkami przeciwdrobnoustrojowymi, które zapewniają spełnienie wymagań dotyczących jakości mikrobiologicznej produktu końcowego.
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