mankind to meet their needs for a long time learned to use minerals from the bowels of the planet.
And if coal, oil and other well-known gifts are used in industry for a long time, the beneficial properties of some minerals have been investigated only recently.
Among them is a substance as bentonite.What is this mineral and what is it used?Below we will try to sort out this issue in more detail.
concept and origin
Bentonite - a mineral resource glinoobraznoe sedimentary type having water-absorbent and adsorbent properties.When moistening its volume can increase by several times its original size.
mineral name shall Benton American city located in the state of Montana, which were first discovered deposits of this mineral.
Education bentonite occurred in the later stages of the geological development of our planet.The reason for its occurrence was the transformation of volcanic sedimentary rocks under the influence of moisture and heat.
Variety fields
It should be noted that in addition to the occurrence of hydrothermal deposits influenced by many external factors.Therefore, in the world there are many places where the mining of bentonite clays produced.But they have different properties and are used in different industries.
Mining
In modern mining industry development is mainly made of bentonite clay open pit.This is due to deposition of the sedimentary rock, the depth of finding which usually does not exceed 100 meters.Bentonite production starts only after the study of the field.
analysis and geological exploration evaluate the economic feasibility of the beginning of development, and then carried out to untapped.This assumes the volume of production exceed several million tons.Only in this case the development of the quarry will be profitable.
each field provides a special bentonite.What is the variety and where they are used?
Branches application
The most common areas of application of this mineral are:
- Agriculture.In the industry widely used bentonite.Its use for land reclamation and as an absorbent element for field work can not be overestimated.
- Bentonite for wine and fruit juice production.We do not just come to the idea of using the mineral industry in this area.The wine is often used bentonite clarification of various wines and natural beverages.
- steel industry.It is indispensable in the foundry industry for the production of a variety of molding compounds.In addition, treatment of bentonite clay is an integral part of the production of alloys of ferrous metals.
- perfume industry and manufacture of household products.Bentonite does not contain any toxic additives, and possesses excellent absorption properties.It is widely used in the manufacture of cosmetics, toilet water, various emulsions and additives that prevent corrosion.The cost of raw material, even higher quality is significantly lower than plant and animal additives used in the manufacture of household products.Therefore, the use of bentonite can significantly reduce the cost of procurement of raw materials.
- Light industry.Bentonite is a cheap and high quality substitute for starch and is commonly used for the manufacture of the fabric.
- Oil refining industry.For it requires a separate bentonite.What is this kind of?The fact that the products obtained in petroleum refining, greatly improve their consumer qualities if their pre-purification was performed bentonite.This removes all unwanted impurities.
below consider the application of bentonite in some sectors in more detail.
wine industry
Bentonite for wine making in recent years it is perhaps the key element of the process.It is difficult to imagine how you ever managed without it.
Basically it is used in the following cases:
- bentonite clarification of wine and fruit juices;
- processing wine mash to remove a variety of enzymes and protein compounds;
- treatment of wine and juice materials to stabilize them.
routine cleaning bentonite used in the wine industry alone.But in some cases it is possible to use other adjuvants that are involved in the process as a catalyst.
Benefits of using bentonite in winemaking
first advantage .The use of this mineral in the production of wine, in addition to its low price, allows for greater benefits in the process.The mineral can significantly reduce the amount of adhesive in the processing of waste:
- Legkookleivaemyh materials.For this bentonite is mixed with a small amount of baking soda.
- wort process of manufacturing white and sparkling wines.For this bentonite slurry is prepared without the addition of soda.This enables dense precipitate which completely lacks any proteinaceous compound.
second advantage .Bentonite is easy to apply in production.The resulting solution does not form a lumpy connections, making it easy to connect it to the semi-finished wine.Thus it has a large coefficient of clarification and stabilization of the finished products.
third advantage .Low cost of bentonite clays in comparison with similar substances.At the same time rates of raw materials to the lighting products, in some cases even lower than that of similar sorbents.This reduces the production costs, thereby reducing the cost of finished products and increases the rate of profit in the enterprise.
fourth advantage .Dry powder of bentonite allows you to easily prepare a solution of any consistency.This is done by adding the necessary quantity of liquid.
fifth advantage .You can get any kind of bentonite and category.Suffice it to refer to the provider of the raw materials and become familiar with the characteristics of the mineral, and then make the necessary choice.
Application in horizontal directional drilling (HDD)
often used bentonite for HDD.So, when made earthworks associated with drilling, there are cases shedding the walls of the drilled holes.In order to strengthen the barrel and is used bentonite clay.In addition, the hydrophobic properties of building materials that contain in its composition this mineral, making them suitable to reinforce the walls of the trench during excavation work carried out below the groundwater level in a particular area.
Bentonite for drilling in the horizontal direction is used because of its high binding properties.The water coming into contact with this substance, it fills the existing void.The result is a mixture of swell and increase its volume several times.
With proper respect for the right proportions of dry powder and liquid form a smooth viscous substance that has thixotropic properties.This means that the bentonite solution easily absorbs water and becomes pliable, making it easier to handle.And in the absence of mechanical action it hardens to form a water barrier.
special bentonite clay solution is indispensable for drilling operations in the soil loose and floating.It strengthens the walls of the well received and to prevent sticking of parts of the ground for drilling tools.
use in the fight against quicksand
Bentonite is also used for drilling in the event of silt.As is known, quicksand - it is ground, mixed with water, which acts on the borehole wall, causing their permanent collapse.
Usually it consists of sand and clay pieces that form the so-called "creeping water."When the well reaches the place of formation of quicksand, a violation of the integrity of its membrane leads to the filling of the mass of the entire space of the walls of the well, which does not allow to continue.The volume of liquid may be so considerable that even the use of a pump for pumping the slurry does not solve the problem.
to neutralize the negative impact of quicksand and is used bentonite clay.It is pumped into the annulus.After swelling of the waterproofing mixture forms a mass that does not allow the liquid to fill the hole.
Bentonite in modern drilling operations - a magic wand, especially when drilling for water.Also hydrophobic properties, it has a lubricating property, which allows to increase the resource rig directly incisors.
Conclusion In this article, we talked about this material, like bentonite, that is, what it is used, in which areas industry and the purpose for which used as its production is carried out.More details about its physical properties can be found by contacting the specialized publications.
