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Metakaolinite has been used as a silica and alumina precursor to synthesise kalsilite via the hydrothermal method with the addition of potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the potassium source. The effects of the KOH concentrations and reaction temperatures have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) diffractograms and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) images showed the formation of hexagonal kalsilite after the hydrothermal reaction of metakaolinite at 190 ° C in 1.25 M KOH for 24 hours. Kalsilite formed as a minor crystalline phase at a KOH concentration of less than 1.0M KOH, while, at a higher KOH concentration, the crystallinity of the product increases. On the other hand, 190 ° C was sufficient to convert metakaolinite to kalsilite. Besides, zeolite F and muscovite have been found as the dominant products at a lower KOH concentration and temperature, respectively.

This study evaluated the effects of inclusion levels of sodium bentonite clay as a feed additive on growth and hematology parameters of TGGG, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × E. lanceolatus. Four dietary treatments D1, D2, D3, and D4 feeds comprising 0, 1, 1.5, and 2% clay respectively were evaluated for weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival, and hematology parameters. D3 comprising of 1.5% clay showed significantly higher WG, SGR, FI, red blood count (RBC), and the best FCR compared to the other dietary treatments. D4 comprising of 2% clay showed the least desirable effects on growth performance and feed utilization of hybrid TGGG with significantly lower WG, SGR, and RBC compared to D3; as well as the poorest FCR value. D3 also showed the lowest WBC count compared to D1, D2 and D4. Taken together, these findings indicated that dietary treatments comprising 1.5% clay is the most suitable among other investigated treatments as a growth promoting feed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]