Bentonite

The bentonite is a Argile whose name comes from Strong Benton to the United States. Also known under the term of earth fuller , it can be regarded as a Smectite, primarily consisting of Montmorillonite (Na, Ca) 0.33 (Al, Mg) 2Si4O10 (OH) 2·(H2O) n. (80%) and of clay what explains its water holding capacity. One also finds other elements like the quartz, the Mica, the Feldspath, the Pyrite or the Calcite. The bentonite layers are origins Volcanique and hydrothermal.

It has various properties. In particular, it absorbs the Protéine S, reduced the activity of the Enzyme S. bentonitic muds (concealing a fraction of bentonite) are used in excavation work, of slurry trench walls, because of their capacity to easily leave the place quickly and to the concretes run in their place. They can be added to the Compost.

Various varieties

There exist 2 types of bentonites:
  • the bentonite containing Sodium which increases volume when it is wet and which can absorb several times its water mass. This property is development in the Mastic S for the polluting matter hiding in the ground. It is used in the wells of oil drilling and geothermic research.

  • the bentonite containing calcium (pascalite), which does not have these properties of swelling, has parapharmaceutic applications whose results remain to be proven, in particular in the field of the digestive Système. Indigenous tribes of South America, Africa and Australia a long time employed the bentonite clay for this use.

Because of its functionalities rheological S, the bentonite has a thixotropic behavior . Minor amounts of betonite in aqueous solution form a viscous mixture, whose viscosity drops when the mechanical effort which is applied to him increases.

Properties

With raised concentration, (60 g/l), the bentonite solutions take the texture of a Gel.

Uses

The most important outlet of bentonite is in the techniques of the Civil engineering, particularly in the sealing of the buildings, the construction of Digue S, the installation of drains, the construction of tunnels, the injection of ground, the realization of special foundations (trench walls slurry, bars, pious)… the bentonite is conditioned for this use in sticks (or granulated) and provides a sure hydrological obturation. The sticks consist of 99% of bentonite and approximately synthetic fiber 1% of filling. The bentonite is also used in the techniques of Géothermie (heat pumps) to prevent the pipes from freezing. It is used as product of sealing in the artificial ponds. It can be employed like dessicant and Food additive (the United States). One uses it in food industry to clarify the Vin S, fruit juices and the Cocoa butter during their manufacture. Tests were carried out to use bentonite like artificial protection in the final storage of the produced radioactive S. It is also used as fluid of Forage being useful with the behavior of the walls and the evacuation of the drilled matters and out of emergency obturator when a Forage accidentally crosses the floor of a Aquifère and that important nondesired losses take place in the subjacent grounds then. The bentonite can be used as substance of joining in enology. It is used as treatment on the white wines in order to prevent proteinic breakage. Used out of must coming from deteriorated vintage, it facilitates washing.

Other uses rest on its faculties of absorption:

bonds

  • animal feeds
  • drillings
  • MinDat - Bentonite (engl.)
  • Bentonit Wissenschafts- und Produktionsgesellschaft
  • Bentonit.de - Was STI Bentonit
  • Definition off bentonite (engl.)

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