Leaching of Lunar Regolith for Synthetic Phyllosilicates on the Moon

The reaction of lunar minerals to water is understudied. Lunar regolith will generally show a strong reactivity to water, and if lunar minerals are dispersed in water-based liquids, significant mineral dissolution can be expected. Here it is proposed to use lunar regolith covering the Moon surface as a primary feedstock for the production of synthetic phyllosilicates. The envisioned concept suggests dispersing fine-grained regolith in water-based media, which will result in the leaching of ions from the regolith. The leached ions will be separated from the initial leaching solution, followed by precipitation of the ions under steady conditions. The resulting solids are a portfolio of synthetic clays in various polymorphs and shapes with a range of applications in ISRU. Furthermore, the suggested work can be expected to inform research work on regolith/lunar dust in contact with water, such as greenhouses, astrobiology, dust inhalation, lunar water ice, habitat construction, and more.