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Natural & Safe: Natural mineral raw materials – safe and non-toxic natural non-metallic minerals with strong physical inertness, non-irritating, non-residual, and not absorbed by the body. Suitable for pets, infants, and young children.
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Super Strong Adsorption: First-class odor absorption layer structure brings a super large specific surface area, which can absorb odor, moisture, bacteria, and drug substances, and lock the odor as soon as it is touched.
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Quick Clumping: Quickly agglomerates when in contact with water, not easy to disperse. After absorbing water, it quickly expands and solidifies – the clump is compact, does not stick to the bottom, easy to clean, and has low usage.
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Low Dust: Non-irritating to the nose and respiratory tract, fine texture, high compaction, almost no dust – more friendly to sensitive individuals and pets.
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Strong Stability: Not easily deteriorated, moisture resistant, high temperature resistant, not easily moldy, stored for a long time with stable performance.
1. Cation Exchange Property
Cation exchange is one of the most important properties of montmorillonite. The cations adsorbed between montmorillonite layers have exchangeability, and the total amount of these cations is called cation exchange capacity (CEC). In aqueous media, other exchangeable cations and water molecules can enter the interlayer, and this process is reversible. By utilizing the cation exchange properties of montmorillonite, various products such as sodium based bentonite, lithium based montmorillonite, activated clay, pillared montmorillonite, and organic montmorillonite can be prepared.
2. Water Absorption and Swelling
Montmorillonite contains a large number of hydroxyl groups in its structure, with strong hydrophilicity and significant water absorption and swelling characteristics. Expansion is mainly based on the hydration of interlayer cations, which adsorb water molecules to form a hydration film, increasing the interlayer spacing and causing expansion. After absorbing water, the volume can expand several times to dozens of times to form gel-like substances. The hydration expansion of montmorillonite mainly includes three stages:
- Surface hydration
- Ionic hydration
- Permeation hydration
3. Dispersed Suspension
In aqueous media, due to the negative charge of montmorillonite particles, they repel each other and are difficult to form large particle aggregates at low concentrations. Therefore, they have good suspension properties and can be used as suspension agents. Generally, suspension properties increase with pH value, and are better under alkaline conditions than under neutral and acidic conditions.
4. Thickening Property
When mixed with water, montmorillonite hydrates and expands, forming a massive three-dimensional network structure. The water molecules and lotion particles are wrapped and isolated to increase their motion resistance, achieving a thickening effect. As time goes on, this colloidal structure tends to stabilize.
5. Thixotropy
During stirring, the colloidal structure is disrupted, the viscosity of the system decreases, and it becomes a sol. When standing still, the colloidal structure recovers, and the viscosity of the system increases in the form of gel. The process of restoring the colloidal structure is reversible and is known as the thixotropy of montmorillonite.
6. Stability
Montmorillonite is a natural inorganic mineral material with good stability and weather resistance.
- Good Chemical Stability: Montmorillonite is insoluble in water and various solvents, and is not reduced or oxidized at room temperature. It has a wide range of pH resistance and its structure is not easily affected by acids, bases, or salts. It has good compatibility with organic anions, alcohol solvents, etc.
- Good Thermal Stability: The dehydroxylation temperature of montmorillonite is generally 550°C–750°C, at which the structural hydroxyl groups are removed but the layer structure is not destroyed, exhibiting good thermal stability.
- Good Biological Stability: Montmorillonite is not affected by bacteria or microorganisms. Its suspension is not easily moldy or spoiled under humid and hot conditions. It does not undergo enzymatic hydrolysis, odor, or viscosity reduction like organic thickeners such as cellulose and xanthan gum, and has superior anti-corrosion and anti-degradation properties.
Medicinal Safety
As an over-the-counter antidiarrheal, montmorillonite is generally not absorbed by the human body and is relatively safe. However, please note:
- It should be taken 1–2 hours apart from other medications to avoid affecting their absorption.
- Overdosing may lead to constipation.
- When treating acute diarrhea, it is necessary to pay attention to fluid replacement to prevent dehydration.
⚠️ Industrial Grade vs. Pharmaceutical Grade: Montmorillonite with different uses has different purity and impurity control standards, and cannot be mixed. Industrial bentonite should never be consumed internally.
What is montmorillonite and what is it made of?
Montmorillonite is a natural non-metallic mineral composed primarily of water aluminum silicate. It is odorless, non-toxic, and physically inert, making it safe for use in medical, industrial, agricultural, and daily life applications.
Is montmorillonite safe for pets and children?
Yes. Pharmaceutical-grade montmorillonite is a natural mineral that is non-toxic, non-irritating, and not absorbed by the body. It is widely used in products suitable for pets, infants, and young children, such as cat litter and antidiarrheal medicines. However, industrial-grade bentonite must never be used for internal consumption.
What sizes and packaging options are available?
Montmorillonite is available in granule sizes of 1.5–3.0 mm (customizable), and in weights of 2.5KG, 5KG, 10KG, and 20KG. Packaging options include plastic bags, woven bags, ton bags, cardboard boxes, and OEM packaging. Model volumes available are 6L, 10L, and 25L.
Can I get free samples before placing a bulk order?
Yes, free samples can be provided. Please submit an inquiry with your requirements to request product samples for quality evaluation before committing to a bulk purchase.
What are the main industrial applications of montmorillonite?
Montmorillonite has extensive industrial uses including drilling mud for petroleum and geological drilling, casting binders for molding sand, metallurgical binders for iron ore pellets, wastewater treatment adsorbents, anti-leakage materials for landfills and reservoirs, catalysts and carriers, and fillers/thickeners for papermaking and coatings.
How should montmorillonite be stored to maintain its performance?
Montmorillonite has strong stability and is moisture resistant, high temperature resistant, and not easily moldy. It can be stored for a long time with stable performance. Store in a cool, dry environment away from direct moisture exposure. Its biological stability means it will not degrade or develop odor under normal storage conditions, even in humid or warm environments.
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