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Bentonite is a clay material made up of montmorillonite and other minerals. It has many uses, including as a binding material in metal castings and concrete, a sealer for holes, and an ingredient in paints, detergents, and drugs. It can also absorb moisture and toxins, making it useful for pet bedding, oil spills, and wastewater filtration.
Bentonite is a geological clay material consisting primarily of a mineral group called montmorillonite. It is usually created from volcanic ash that has been broken down by water. Other minerals included in bentonite clay are aluminum, calcium, potassium and sodium. The predominance of one of these minerals dictates the names of the variants. The two most common variants of bentonite clay are calcium and sodium. This type of material has so many uses that it has earned the nickname “the 1,000-use clay.”
Geologists have estimated that the formation of bentonite can be traced back 70 million years. This means that the clay has been deposited in the lower layers of the earth’s soil and usually requires mining and quarrying to obtain it. Excavated clay usually comes in solid form, even when it contains 30 percent moisture. It is usually combined with soda ash to be reactivated and used. Bentonites usually contain some impurities such as quartz and gypsum and may require filtering and purification before use as a building material.
A characteristic of bentonite clay, particularly of the sodium type, is its ability to expand when water is added. This is due to the clay particles being shaped like slabs and creating a larger surface area. The water then exchanges ions with the particles and the clay can expand and swell in size.
Bentonite’s ability to expand makes it an ideal binding material, especially in metal castings, where the sand that contains the molten metal can be made from the bentonite. Clay can also be mixed into concrete for building purposes. It can also act as a sealer for holes created by drilling. Paints and dyes also include clay as an ingredient, as bentonite clay is a great thickener.
The pet industry also has its uses for clay, mostly for bedding. The moisture from the cat waste will be absorbed by the clay, which turns into lumps and makes it easier to dispose of. Its cleaning ability also makes it an important ingredient in soaps and detergents, as clay can bind to dirt and can even make fabrics softer.
Bentonite clay has also been explored as a drug and is used for detoxification and indigestion purposes. In the same way that it binds to dirt, it can also attach itself to internal toxins and transport them as clay is flushed out of the system. Its binding ability is also effective for oil spills, wastewater filtration, and even for purifying wines and vinegars.
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