Bentonite

Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate , in general, impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite . There are different types of bentonites, and their names depend on the dominant elements , such as potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and aluminum (Al).

Bentonite usually forms from weathering of volcanic ash , most often in the presence of water. However, the term bentonite, as well as a similar clay called tonstein, has been used for clay beds of uncertain origin. For industrial purposes, two main classes of bentonite exist: sodium and calcium bentonite.

Sodium bentonite expands when wet, absorbing as much as several times its dry mass in water . Because of its excellent colloidal properties, it is often used in drilling mud for oil and gas wells and for geotechnical and environmental investigations. The property of swelling also makes sodium bentonite useful as a sealant. Calcium bentonite is a useful adsorbent of ions in solution, as well as fats and oils, being a main active ingredient of fuller's earth , probably one of the earliest industrial cleaning agents.

Typical Applications:
* Fining agent for Wine and Fruit Juice
* geotechnical engineering
* Mining
* Drilling