Bentonite

Bentonite is a natural clay belonging to the Smectite family

The main component is called montmorillonite

It is a layered structure with negative charge

It comes from the alkaline degradation of the feldspar mineral

!  calcic bentonite !  calcic activated bentonite (sodic activated) !  natural sodic bentonite

Tetrahedral sheet - SiO2

Octahedral sheet - Al2O3 - Al2(OH)6

Tetrahedral sheet - SiO2

Compensation cation (Ca++ Na+…)

Tetrahedral sheet - SiO2

The structure

Bentonite: Al(Fe2,Mg3)Si4O10(OH)2 .nH2O

The process ACTIVATION !  Substitution of compensation cations within the

interlayer space !  Control of chemical-physical process parameters

PURIFICATION !  Decrease of undesired metallic elements !  Decrease of mineralogical contamination !  Removal of microbiological pollutant

TRANSFORMATION !  Micronisation into fine powders !  Aggregation and granulating process

Bentonite Dal Cin Escavation from mine

Shipment

Unloading in stock area

Bentonite Dal Cin Laboratory analysis

Warehouse

Micronization

Bentonite “calcic”

Bentonite “medium activation”

Bentonite “strong activation”

Bentonite range

Bentonite “micro”

Bentonite “grain”