Calcium bentonite swells little and absorbs well, which suits uses where the clay should carry or hold something instead of sealing. Powder grades are bought by ceramic and filler makers, fertilizer plants and processors of bleaching earth.
Technical Specifications
Sodium vs calcium bentonite: which do you need?
Sodium bentonite swells many times its size in water and forms a seal or gel; calcium bentonite barely swells and is valued as an absorbent carrier. That one property decides who buys each grade. This page covers calcium bentonite.
| Sodium bentonite | Calcium bentonite | |
|---|---|---|
| Key behaviour | Swells strongly, forms gel and low-permeability seal | Low swell, high absorbency, holds liquids |
| Granule uses | Pond, lake and canal sealing; borehole and well annulus sealing; landfill and geosynthetic clay liners; clumping cat litter | Carrier granules for pesticides, bio-fertilizers and micronutrients (10x20, 16x35 mesh); soil conditioner; non-clumping litter; oil and spill absorbent |
| Powder uses | Drilling mud (oil, water well, HDD); iron ore pelletizing binder (75 micron); foundry green sand; sulphur-bentonite fertilizer (90:10); diaphragm wall and piling slurry; wine and juice fining | Fertilizer granulation binder; bleaching earth after acid activation (edible oil refining); ceramics; cosmetics and face packs |
| Main buyers | Drilling contractors, steel and pellet plants, foundries, cat litter brands, pond and landfill contractors, GCL makers, sulphur fertilizer makers | Agrochemical and bio-fertilizer formulators, NPK plants, oil refineries, ceramic and cosmetic makers |
| Tests buyers ask for | Swell index (ml/2g), gel/viscosity, fluid loss, moisture, mesh | Absorption (oil/water), crush strength, mesh, moisture, pH, dust |
Much “sodium bentonite” sold in India is calcium bentonite treated with soda ash (activated sodium). Ask for the swell index (ml/2g) and whether a grade is natural or activated before you order.
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For: Calcium Bentonite Powder
Who this is for
Ceramic and tile makers, paint and filler producers, fertilizer plants that use bentonite as a granulation binder, and processors who acid-activate calcium clay into bleaching earth for edible oil refining. Cosmetic users should read our white bentonite powder pages.
What buyers test
Absorption (oil and water), mesh residue, moisture and pH; ceramic buyers add colour and iron; bleaching-earth processors run their own acid-activation trial on a sample. Agree the limits and the test method before the first order.
Related Products
View full categoryFrequently Asked Questions
Is calcium bentonite powder suitable for drilling mud?
No. Drilling mud needs a sodium bentonite that swells and builds viscosity.
Is it the same as fuller’s earth?
Calcium bentonite is often sold as fuller’s earth. Check the swell and absorption values of the grade you are quoted.
Which mesh sizes do you supply?
200 and 300 mesh as standard; other fineness on request after a sample check.