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Cat Litter:
The first cat litters using absorbent clay minerals were introduced in 1947. Since that time the market for both conventional granular and clumping cat litters has grown to an estimated 5.5 billion pounds per year.
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Oil & Grease Absorbents:
Granular clay absorbents have been used for over 75 years to clean up minor drips, spills and over sprays in factories and garages. These products help to ensure a safe work environment.
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Foundry Sand Binder:
Bentonite is used as a binding agent in making molding sands for use in iron, steel and non-ferrous casting.

Animal Feeds:
Absorbent clays are used as flow control agents for animal feeds such as soy meal and also used as a supplement in animal feeds.

Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics:
Bentonite is used as a binder in tablet manufacturing and in diarrhea medications. Clays are used as thickeners in a wide variety of cosmetics including facial creams, lipsticks, shampoos and calamine lotion.

Drilling Fluids:
Attapulgite and bentonite are used in the drilling of oil and water wells. The clays are turned into mud, which seals the walls of the boreholes, lubricates the drill head and removes drill cuttings.

Edible Oils:
Absorbent clays are used as filtration media in the production of edible oils such as soybean, palm and canola oils. The clays remove impurities. Clays are also used as clarifying agents in the production of wine, beer and juices.
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Soil Amendments:
Calcined montmorillonite clays are used to improve soil structure in landscape applications, growing mediums, golf courses and athletic fields.
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Environmental Sealants:
Bentonite is used to establish low permeability liners in landfills, sewage lagoons, water retention ponds, golf course ponds, hazardous waste sites and to amend local soils to reduce surface water flow into groundwater.
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Waste Water Treatment:
Bentonite is used for treatment of industrial wastewater from plating, coating, painting, laundry and printing operations. The clay-based technology cleans wastewater streams and ties up heavy metals.

Agriculture:
Attapulgite and montmorillonite are commonly used as carriers for fertilizers and pesticides.
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Pelletizing:
Bentonite is used to bind tiny particles of iron ore, which are then formed into pellets for use as feed material for blast furnaces.

Foods:
Bentonite is used in an assortment of foods including candy bars and yogurt.

Paints:
Finely ground clays are used in the paint industry to disperse pigment evenly throughout the paint. Without clays, it would be extremely difficult to evenly mix the paint base and color pigment.

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©2007 Sorptive Minerals Institute.

© Sorptive Minerals Institute. All Rights Reserved
How clay and absorbent minerals are used in industry, cosmetics, food, medicine, the environment, and agriculture.