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Industrial Applications of Bentonite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Arthur G. Clem  and
Robert W. Doehler
Arthur G. Clem
Affiliation:
American Colloid Company, Skolrie, Illinois, USA
Robert W. Doehler
Affiliation:
American Colloid Company, Skolrie, Illinois, USA
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Abstract

Bentonite is employed by industry to perform a multitude of jobs. Certain industrial applications become apparent from an understanding of the composition and structure of bentonite, and the properties they create. These properties are utilized chiefly when the material is suspended in a liquid, usually water; or as a dried powder or granule.

Most industrial applications involve the swelling property of bentonite to form viscous water suspensions. Depending upon the relative proportions of clay and water, these mixtures are used as bonding, plasticizing, and suspending agents.

Bentonites disperse into colloidal particles and, accordingly, provide large surface areas per unit weight of clay. This large surface area is a major reason why bentonite functions so well in stabilizing emulsions, or as a medium to carry other chemicals.

Bentonites react chemically with many organic materials to form compounds which are used chiefly as gelling agents in a variety of organic liquids.

Bentonites are selected for each industrial need on the basis of type and quality. This selection is based principally on physical properties, and chemistry of the bentonite becomes involved only to the extent that it influences the physical properties.

Type
Symposium on Industrial Applications
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals (National Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals) , Volume 10 , February 1961 , pp. 272 - 283
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 1961

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References

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