Bentonite and Its Applications
Montmorillonite is the primary mineral component of bentonite, widely used in various industries. However, the presence of impurities other than montmorillonite reduces its quality.
The term bentonite was first used to describe clays with high colloidal and plastic properties in the Cretaceous deposits of Wyoming.
Commercial bentonites contain more than 60%—usually over 70%—montmorillonite, accompanied by other minerals such as quartz, cristobalite, feldspar, zeolite, and other clay minerals like kaolinite. The presence of these minerals depends on the origin of the bentonite. Montmorillonite is the essential and active component of bentonite, and its economic value is primarily based on its montmorillonite content.
Bentonite is widely used as a filler in various industries, including paper manufacturing, nanomaterials, and polymers. Nowadays, there is also high demand for bentonite in pharmaceuticals, hygiene and cosmetic products, and animal and poultry feed. The type of bentonite required for these applications is pure white bentonite with a high montmorillonite content, which should have a cation exchange capacity of at least 60%.
Benefits of Using Bentonite in Animal Feed
Bentonite has multiple applications in livestock and poultry feed, mainly as a toxin binder and pellet binder. The use of absorbent materials such as activated charcoal, bentonite, and other aluminosilicates has been scientifically proven to combat mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins.
Due to its unique multi-faceted structure, bentonite has a high adsorption capacity for aflatoxins and is also an effective pellet binder. Additionally, bentonite serves as a buffer in livestock nutrition and is used as a moisture absorbent in bedding.
General Benefits of Bentonite in Animal Feed:
- Prevents the negative effects of aflatoxins on the liver
- Enhances the immune system and overall animal health
- Increases daily weight gain
- Improves milk quality and reduces somatic cell count
- Reduces ammonia nitrogen in the rumen
Effects of Bentonite in Poultry Nutrition:
- Adsorbs and deactivates mycotoxins
- Reduces liver-related diseases, such as fatty liver
- Lowers bedding moisture
- Reduces coccidiosis by disrupting the life cycle of coccidia
- Decreases ammonia levels in poultry houses
For many years, bentonite has been used as a pellet binder. Sodium bentonite is a highly effective clay-based pellet binder, particularly in diets with low energy and high fiber content.
Acid-Activated Bentonite
Acid-washed bentonite is a processed form of bentonite in which structural changes increase its active layers, enhancing its toxin-binding capacity.
Chitika Company, with its large mines and factory, has the capability to process and produce raw and acid-washed bentonite for nationwide distribution.
Acid-washed bentonite has a structure capable of absorbing and binding aflatoxins to neutralize them. At the molecular level, these compounds are saturated with water, allowing them to attract and bind to the polar atomic structure of aflatoxins.
Water, with its bipolar nature and regions of positive and negative charge, binds to aflatoxin molecules, neutralizing them. This process prevents aflatoxins from participating in digestive reactions, stopping their entry into the animal’s bloodstream and ensuring animal safety.
