Skip to main content

Adsorption of Organic Compounds Found in Human Sebum on Latvian Illitic, Kaolinitic, and Chloritic Phyllosilicates

Clays and Clay Minerals volume 62, pages 500–507 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Clays are used widely as facial masks to remove excess sebum, an oily substance released onto the skin. Smectite, illite, kaolinite, and in some cases, chlorite, are the dominant phyllosilicates in most commonly used clay facial masks. To date, the adsorption of human sebum has been proved only on smectite clays; in the present study the adsorption of two organic compounds found in human sebum by illitic, kaolinitic, and chloritic phyllosilicates was investigated. Illitic clays are often used in cosmetic clay masks, but usually contain some fine-grained non-clay minerals. The presence of carbonate, for example, can cause skin irritation because of its alkaline nature, and iron oxides and hydroxides reduce the adsorption properties of clays. The influence of the removal of these compounds on the adsorption properties of illitic clays was also investigated. The amounts of both compounds adsorbed were established by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. All samples were characterized by mineralogical composition, particlesize distribution, specific surface area, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Oleic acid and squalene were adsorbed on all clay samples, but illitic and chloritic phyllosilicates showed the greatest adsorption capacity. After purification, the sizes of the particles decreased and the CEC values increased. Nevertheless, the dissolution of carbonates essentially had no influence on the adsorption properties, whereas the removal of iron oxides and hydroxides increased significantly the amounts adsorbed of both oleic acid and squalene.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Adamis, Z., Fodor, J., and Williams, R.B. (2005) Sources of human and environmental exposure. Pp. 23–39 in: Environmental Health Criteria 231: Bentonite, Kaolin and selected Clay Minerals (M. Sheffer, editor). World Health Organization, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrado, K.A., Decarreau, A., Petit, S., Bergaya, F., and Lagaly, G. (2006) Synthetic clay minerals and purification of natural clays. Pp. 115–139 in: Handbook of Clay Science (F. Bergaya, B.K.G. Theng, and G. Lagaly, editors). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carretero, M.I. (2002) Clay minerals and their beneficial effects upon human health. A review. Applied Clay Science, 21, 155–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carretero, M.I. and Pozo, M. (2009) Clays and non-clay minerals in the pharmaceutical industry, Part I: Excipients and medical applications. Applied Clay Science, 46, 73–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carretero, M.I. and Pozo, M. (2010) Clays and non-clay minerals in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, Part II: Active ingredients. Applied Clay Science, 47, 171–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carretero, M.I., Gomes, C.S.F., and Tateo, F. (2013) Clays, drugs and human health. Pp. 711–764 in: Handbook of Clay Science (F. Bergaya and G. Lagaly, editors). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D. (1959) Ion exchange in clays and other minerals. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 70, 749–780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuff, Y.H. (1996) Preparing and testing natural clays for workshop use. Pp. 149–158 in: Technology for Potters and Sculptors. University of Pennsylvania Press, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downing, D.T., Stranieri, A.M., and Strauss, J.S. (1982) The effect of accumulated lipids on measurements of sebum secretion in human skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 79, 226–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einsele, G. (2000) Special depositional environments and sediments. Pp. 249–283 in: Sedimentary Basins: Evolution, Facies and Sediment Budget. Springer, Germany.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Favre, F., Bogdal, C., Gavillet, S., and Stucki, J.W. (2006) Changes in the CEC of a soil smectite-kaolinite clay fraction as induced by structural iron reduction and iron coatings dissolution. Applied Clay Science, 34, 95–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenland, D.J., Laby, R.H., and Quirk, J.P. (1965) Adsorption of amino-acids and peptides by montmorillonite and illite. Part 1. Cation exchange and proton transfer. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 61, 2013–2023.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hang, P.T. and Brindley, G.W. (1970) Methylene blue absorption by clay minerals. Determination of surface areas and cation exchange capacities (clay-organic studies XVIII). Clays and Clay Minerals, 18, 203–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, H.H., Downing, D.T., Steward, M.E., and Strauss, J.S. (1983) Sustainable rates of sebum secretion in acne patients and matched normal control subjects. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 8, 200–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, C.T. (1996) Sorption of organic compounds on clay minerals: A surface functional group approach. Pp. 1–44 in: Organic Pollutants in the Environment (B. Sawhney, editor). Workshop Lectures Series, 8, The Clay Minerals Society, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

  • Johnston, C.T. (2010) Probing the nanoscale architecture of clay minerals. Clay Minerals, 45, 245–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khiari, I., Mefteh, S., Sánchez-Espejo, R., Cerezo, P., Aguzzi, C., López-Galindo, A., Jamoussi, F., and Iborra, V.C. (2014) Study of traditional Tunisian medina clays used in therapeutic and cosmetic mud-packs. Applied Clay Science, 101, 141–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledet, G., Bostanian, L.A., and Mandal, T.K. (2013) Nanoemulsions as a vaccine adjuvant. Pp. 125–142 in: Bioengineered Nanomaterials (A. Tiwari and A. Tiwari, editors). CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y. and Gupta, G. (1994) Adsorption/desorption of hydrocarbons on clay minerals. Chemosphere, 28, 627–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Galindo, A. and Viseras, C. (2004) Pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications of clays. Pp. 267–289 in: Clay Surfaces, Fundamentals and Applications (F. Wypych and K.G. Satyanarayana, editors). Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Galindo, A., Viseras, C., and Cerezo, P. (2007) Compositional, technical and safety specifications of clays to be used as pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Applied Clay Science, 36, 51–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackinnon, I.D.R., Uwins, P.J.R., Yago, A., and Page, D. (1993) Kaolinite particle sizes in the <2 μm range using laser scattering. Clays and Clay Minerals, 41, 613–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matike, D.M.E., Ekosse, G.I.E., and Ngole, V.M. (2011) Physico-chemical properties of clayey soils used traditionally for cosmetics in Eastern Cape, South Africa. International Journal of the Physical Sciences, 33, 7557–7566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehra, O.P. and Jackson, M.L. (1960) Iron oxide removal by dithionite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 7, 317–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, D.M. and Reynolds, R.C. (1997) X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 227–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pappas, A., Johnsen, S., Liu, J.C., and Eisinger, M. (2009) Sebum analysis of individuals with and without acne. Dermatoendocrinology, 3, 157–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Hathaway, J.C., and Blackwood, D.S. (2001) A laboratory manual for X-ray powder diffraction. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-041, 33 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rytwo, G., Serban, S., Nir, S., and Margulies, L. (1991) Use of methylene blue and crystal violet for determination of exchangeable cations in montmorillonite. Clays and Clay Minerals, 39, 551–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, J.R., Yvonne, M., DeAngelis, Y.M., and Dawson, T.L. (2012) Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis: A head scratcher. Pp. 389–414 in: Practical Modern Hair Science (T. Evans and R.R. Wickett, editors). Allured Publishing Corporation, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stucki, J.W. and Roth, C.B. (1977) Oxidation-reduction mechanism for structural iron in nontronite. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 41, 808–814.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tateo, F. and Summa, V. (2007) Element mobility in clays for healing use. Applied Clay Science, 36, 67–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiboutot, D. (2004) Regulation of human sebaceous glands. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 123, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vecstaudža, J., Stunda-Zujeva, A., Irbe, Z., and Brziņa-Cimdiņa, L. (2012) Komercilo kosmtisko mlu sastvs un Latvijas mlu piemrotba lietojumam kosmtik. Scientific Journal of RTU: Material Science and Applied Chemistry, 26, 42–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veniale, F., Better, A., Jobstraibizer, P., and Setti, M. (2007) Thermal muds: perspective of innovations. Applied Clay Science, 36, 141–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, C.E. (1989) Evolution of physils and continents. Pp. 561–704 in: Clays, Muds and Shales. Developments in Sedimentology, 44. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L.B., Haydel, S.E., Giese Jr., R.F., and Eberl, D.D. (2008) Chemical and mineralogical characteristics of French green clays used for healing. Clays and Clay Minerals, 56, 437–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youn, S.W. (2010) The role of facial sebum secretion in acne pathogenesis: facts and controversies. Clinics in Dermatology, 28, 8–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zague, V., Silva, D.A., Baby, A.R., Koneko, T.M., and Velasco, M.V.R. (2007) Clay facial masks: Physicochemical stability at different storage temperatures. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 58, 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang, J. and Yu, G.R. (2002) Effects of surface coatings on electrochemical properties and contaminant sorption of clay minerals. Chemosphere, 49, 619–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zouboulis, C.C. (2004) Acne and sebaceous gland function. Clinics in Dermatology, 22, 360–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Chemical Engineering, Riga Technical University, P. Valdena Street 3, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia

    Agnese Pura, Inga Dusenkova & Juris Malers

Authors
  1. Agnese Pura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Inga Dusenkova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juris Malers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inga Dusenkova.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pura, A., Dusenkova, I. & Malers, J. Adsorption of Organic Compounds Found in Human Sebum on Latvian Illitic, Kaolinitic, and Chloritic Phyllosilicates. Clays Clay Miner. 62, 500–507 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2014.0620604

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2014.0620604

Key Words

  • Adsorption
  • Carbonates
  • Clays
  • Iron oxides
  • Oleic Acid
  • Squalene