Bentonite Uses
Bentonite is an impure and absorbent clay mineral that is mostly composed of a hydrous aluminum silicate called montmorillonite. It is highly colloidal plastic clay. It has the property of swelling to many times its original volume when treated with water. There are different types of bentonite depending on their composition and key elements like potassium, calcium, sodium and aluminum. Bentonite is formed by the action of weather conditions on volcanic ash deposits in the presence of water.
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Use in Well Drilling
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Bentonite is called the clay of myriad applications. One major use of bentonite is in the drilling and geotechnical engineering industry. It has unique rheological properties; for example, bentonite shows great affinity towards water and it forms a viscous, thin material with water called "thixotropic gels." This characteristic gives bentonite a wide range of potential uses. Thixotropic gels are a common component of drilling mud used to extract drill cuttings from the bit.
Detoxifying Agent
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Bentonite has been using as a detoxifying agent for centuries by over 200 cultures all over the world who eat and drink the clay on a daily basis. Bentonite is a natural detoxifying agent which assists in the removal of both chemical and pathological toxins in the digestive system. It is also used in the treatment of organic and inorganic toxicity and bacterial food poisoning. Bentonite attracts and absorbs toxins while moving through the body undigested and removes them while leaving the body. Bentonite stimulates liver function and delivers mineral nutrient to the body.
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Adhesive
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Bentonite, especially Wyoming bentonite is used in cement, adhesive and ceramic industry where it is used as an adhesive prepared from mixing clay and sand together. Another popular use of bentonite is for cat litter. The clay offers an excellent cat litter because it is a great odor controller and can absorb water many times its volume.
Industrial uses
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Bentonite is used in steel making industry as a binding agent in the manufacture of an economical, low grade iron ore powder called Taconite. Bentonite is also used in making very special combustion substance celled "pyrotechnics" in the rocket industry. Bentonite is used in the construction industry to fill lands, ponds, ditches and lagoons. It is sometimes used in wastewater treatment.
Other Uses
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Fuller's earth is nothing but a finely ground bentonite powder which is used in the purification of transformer oil. Bentonite is used in small amounts in commercially valuable ceramic glazes and clay bodies.
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