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This section provides an overview for bentonite as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 bentonite manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked bentonite companies as of December, 2024: 1.Minerals Technologies Inc., 2.Wyo-Ben, Inc., 3.CB Minerals LLC.
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1987~1991: Engaged in research on wire covering materials at Polymer Materials Laboratory.
1991~1997: Worked as a patent Engineer at Koike International Patent Office.
1997~2005 Worked as an intellectual property member at GE Yokogawa Medical System, currently working as a writer.
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Bentonite is a general term for clay consisting of different compositions, such as quartz, mica, and calcite. It has montmorillonite (a type of mineral) as the main constituent and is produced in Japan and other parts of the world.
Bentonite is characterized by its high water absorbency due to the layered structure of its main component, montmorillonite, and by its high viscosity after swelling. For this reason, it is widely used in ceramics, industry, and construction. It is also commonly used as an additive in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, detergents, and other products closely related to daily life.
Bentonite is a clay characterized by high water absorbency and high viscosity after swelling. It has a wide range of applications, from ceramics, civil engineering, and construction to daily necessities and pharmaceuticals. Below are some examples of major uses.
Bentonite is a clay composed mainly of a type of mineral (montmorillonite). Other constituents include silicate minerals such as quartz and opal, mica and zeolite, and carbonate and sulfate minerals such as calcite.
Bentonite deposits are found in Aomori, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Gunma, Okayama, and Shimane in Japan and outside Japan in the United States, China, Greece, and Turkey. The significant deposits mined in Japan and abroad are thought to have arisen because sediments derived from volcanic eruptions that occurred approximately 200 million to several million years ago underwent physical and chemical metamorphism due to temperature changes and pressure increases while buried deep underground.
Montmorillonite, the main component of bentonite, is a fine particle structure consisting of thin sheets stacked in layers, with water molecules and ionic components retained between the layers at intervals of approximately 1 nm. It is well known that the high water absorbency of bentonite is mainly due to the interlayer structure of montmorillonite and that the ionic components within montmorillonite play an essential role in its swelling action.
The structure of bentonite is determined by the layer structure of its main component, montmorillonite. Montmorillonite is composed of tetrahedral sheets, which consist of silicon, oxygen, and octahedral sheets (sheets composed of aluminum and hydroxyl groups). One octahedral sheet is sandwiched between two tetrahedral sheets.
The octahedral sheet has a structure in which a portion of the aluminum is replaced by magnesium. Since aluminum is trivalent while magnesium is divalent, interlayer cations are incorporated within the layers to balance the electrical charges.
There are four main types of interlayer cations: Na+, Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+. The types of bentonite are divided according to the type of interlayer cations, and there are two types: "Na-type bentonite" and "Ca-type bentonite.
Na-bentonite is a bentonite that contains a large amount of Na+ ions in the interlayer cations of montmorillonite. It has excellent swelling, thickening, and suspension stability.
Ca-type bentonite is a bentonite with high Ca2+ ion content in the interlayer cations of montmorillonite. Ca-type bentonite is inferior to Na-type bentonite in terms of swelling, thickening, and suspension stability but has excellent water absorption properties.
Some Ca-bentonite artificially becomes Na-bentonite by adding a few sodium carbonates to Ca-bentonite. It will then become activated bentonite. The properties of this activated bentonite are similar to those of Na-bentonite.
Bentonite has no reported toxicity in regular use, as evidenced by its use in household products and pharmaceuticals. It is a common ingredient as a food additive because it causes minor skin irritation and is safe to ingest orally. In particular, fine particles of bentonite can adsorb impurities, which is used as a filtration aid in food production. For example, it is used to filter beer and other alcoholic beverages and soft drinks.
According to the safety data sheet for bentonite, the LD50 (half lethal dose: a measure of acute toxicity) value for oral intake in rats is 5,000 mg/kg. Based on this value, it can be concluded that bentonite belongs to the class of common substances under the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law.
On the other hand, inhaling large amounts of bentonite dust through the nose or mouth can cause pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis is a disease caused by dust accumulation in the respiratory system.
Initially, there are no symptoms, but over time, symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing may occur. Once a person suffers from pneumoconiosis, there is no cure, and the disease never returns to normal lungs. For this reason, bentonite is classified as a Class I dust, along with talc and other dusts, in the classification of dust hazard levels by the Japan Society for Occupational Health.
Bentonite is used as a raw material for mud to protect the walls of excavated ground in building foundations and infrastructure reinforcement projects. This is because simply excavating the ground may cause the side walls of the excavated area to collapse. Specifically, mud prepared by mixing water and bentonite is used to fill the hole while excavating to prevent the collapse of the sides.
This is done by taking advantage of the fact that adding water to bentonite causes it to swell and increase in viscosity, which penetrates the excavation surface to stabilize the sidewalls and, at the same time, forms a robust and thin mud layer on the surface, preventing a partial collapse of the excavation. It also prevents sediment generated during excavation from settling to the bottom. Because of these properties, it is used for safe and efficient excavation.
Bentonite mud is also inexpensive and has the advantage of being easy to work with. On the other hand, its disadvantages are that it is vulnerable to soil salinity and unstable to temperature.
Since it is not very effective in preventing the collapse of side walls, it is suitable for use when shallow excavation is required. Various additives, such as dispersants and lubricants, may be added to the bentonite mud to suit the excavation conditions.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Minerals Technologies Inc., founded in 1968 and based in New York, is a developer and manufacturer of synthetic minerals, specialty minerals, and mineral-based products, as well as related products and services. The company also offers shaped and monolithic refractory items, measurement and application equipment, and calcium and metallurgical cable products for applications in high temperature environments.These products are widely used in paper, ceramic, steel, paint, polymer, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical industries. The company boasts operations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Wyo-Ben was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Billings, Montana, USA., and is a manufacturer of sodium bentonite clay-based products for various commercial and industrial applications. The company provides viscosifiers, foundry sand binders, sealants, air foams, and, absorbents, along with testing equipment, for water & mineral exploration, horizontal directional drilling, oil & gas exploration, caisson drilling & tunneling, and, environmental protection & industrial wastewater treatment sectors. They were awarded by the Boy Scouts of America Montana Council, Northwest mining association, National groundwater association, and, Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
Bulk Apothecary was founded in 2010 in Streetsboro, Ohio. The company is a distributor of natural ingredients and essential oils used in the cosmetic, food, and hobby industries, as well as by individual consumers. The company’s basic offerings include oils, waxes, soap bases, botanicals, and herbs that customers can buy as is or as kits to create homemade soap, potpourri, and other personal care products. The company also offers private label-ready supplies and wholesale supplies and supplements for commercial and high-volume purchases.
READE was originally established in Wolverhampton, England in 1773 as a pharmaceutical chemical and varnish manufacturer. Today READE is based in Riverside, Rhode Island in the United States and is an ISO 9001-certified distributor of specialty chemical solids. READE Advanced Materials offers a selection of hundreds of materials and compounds ranging from alloys in various forms to oxides, sulfides, individual elements, and specialty compounds. READE offers global sourcing, custom toll chemical processing, and custom toll packaging from metallurgical grade to pharmaceutical and food grade.
Addison Building Materials was founded in 1947in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Addison has over 38,000 items in stock across departments including lumber, building materials, hand tools, power tools, electrical, fastener, paper products, SOG Knives, janitorial, clothing, ice & snow, automotive, and audio-visual departments. In addition, Addison offers various services including custom orders, local delivery, rental program for contractor and industrial tools and equipment, lumber cutting, pipe threading, and paint color matching.
CB Minerals LLC, established in 1897 and headquartered in Mamaroneck, New York, is a global mineral supplier and distributor. The company represents many mining and mineral producers both in the United States and throughout the world offering over 40 different industrial minerals of many different grades. It carries minerals for the cosmetics industry, the environmental industry, the paints industry, and many more. Some of its offerings include alumina, bentonite, calcium sulfate, mica, and more. It adheres to ISO 9000 standards and is registered with the U.S. General Services Administration.
Bisley International, LLC is a multinational marketer and distributor of industrial raw materials, with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The company serves several industries including agrochemicals, metallurgy, construction, food & beverage, and oil well drilling. The company produces trace elements and additives for the agrochemical industry. For metallurgy, the company produces specialty allows, raw materials, and consumables. For construction, the company produces raw materials for concrete and plaster. For oil well drilling, the company produces products for extracting and well cementing.
Talleres Segovia, established in 1972 and based in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain, is a manufacturer specializing in drilling equipment and accessories. The company’s products include micro piles for foundation reinforcement, borehole reamers for the enlargement of boreholes, and casing extractors for the removal of casing pipes. It also offers drilling rods for drilling or tunneling operations, water well rigs for establishing fresh water wells, and injection systems for material impregnation of boreholes. The company is ISO 9001-certified, and serves clients in mining, water supply, and public works construction operations.
Sure Fluids, founded in 2015 and located in Gujarat, India, is a manufacturer and supplier of attapulgite, barite bentonite, bentonite powder, and other minerals. ‘ These products are widely used in both local and international mineral exploration, oil and gas grilling, water well drilling and civil engineering projects, among others. Bentonite clay is also used as an absorber in pharmaceutical products such as creams, lotion, anti-irritants, wet compresses, and medicine. The company exports its products to clients in regions such as Africa, North America, South East Asia, and the Middle East.
J&H Minerals, founded in 1975 with its headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, is a manufacturer and supplier of bentonite, barite, feldspar, quartz, soapstone, and other mineral products. The company produces and supplies these minerals and related mineral products to industries, such as paper, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, cosmetics, and electronic manufacturing entities, among others. The company's market has expanded from its original territory in India to now having clients in Africa, Europe, Middle East, and many other regions supported by local and regional representatives.
Bentonite (Manufacturing & Supply) Ltd, incorporated in 2009 and based in Kent, UK, is a manufacturer and supplier of bentonite sand, foam concrete, and slag cement grouts to public and private sector clients. These products have many applications, including bonding agents for molds and foundries, binders for chemicals and pharmaceutical drugs, lubricating agents for oil-well drilling, and additives in lotions. Today, the company caters to clients in the domestic, industrial, construction, energy, and civil engineering sectors throughout the UK.
Zhejiang Yuhong New Materials Co., Ltd., established in 2000, is a privately-owned manufacturer of bentonite. The company’s major products include the YH series of bentonite and come in categories such as organic bentonite, inorganic bentonite, activated clay, and granular activated clay. This ISO:9001 certified company operates a bentonite pulverizing plant and a bentonite clay facility with 40 million tonnes of storage, allowing it to serve clients from around the region. Its products serve industries such as chemical, paper, oil drilling, pyrotechnics, iron ore pelletisation, and many more.
Swell Well Minechem Pvt. Ltd, ISO-9001:2015 certified company, is a manufacturer and supplier of attapulgite, bentonite, calcium bentonite powder, pond sealing bentonite, and pilling grade bentonite. With its own mines and processing facilities in Gujarat, India, the company also produces calcium bentonite powder, which undergoes a series of processes to convert it into bentonite granules and eventually, bentonite powder and bentonite clay. These products are used in various industries, including oil and gas, civil engineering, cosmetic, paper industries, and animal feed industries, among other aplications.
Imerys S.A. is based in Paris, France, and is a processor and manufacturer of minerals for the industrial sector that was originally established as Peñarroya in 1880 before rebranding in 1990. The company offers its Aurora-brand mineral additives for adhesives or coatings, its C-Nergy brand synthetic graphite powders for fuel cells or batteries, and its Alodur branded alumina-based abrasives for blasting or grinding processes. The company operates internationally, with over 16,000 employees and locations in more than 40 countries.
Kunimine Industries Co. Ltd., established in 1943 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of chemical products and functional materials. Its clay science business promotes research and development in the fields of agribusiness, life sciences, and cosmetics. The company offers Kunipia series cosmetic products, which are produced by removing impurities from natural bentonite and fine chemicals such as Sumecton, a clay produced by chemical synthesis. It also offers environmental preservation treatment agents, which are used in exhaust gas treatment processes at waste incineration plants. Its Kunipia series products comply with the COSMOS standard and are certified as COSMOS APPROVED.
Ishtar Company, a subsidiary of Barus Holding Group, has been a supplier and distributor of minerals, petrochemicals, and petroleum products to international markets since 2007. The company works with manufacturers in industries such as mining, oil and gas, and supplies its products to countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world. Thanks to its operations in Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, the company can source and distribute minerals, petrochemical products, and oil products from oil companies such as Iraq INOC, Iran NIOC, Lukoil, Gazprom Neft, Uzbekistan Neftgaseksport, and many more.
Organic Industries Pvt Ltd. is a biotechnology company headquartered in Mumbai, India, specializing in chemicals and polymer processing products. Since its establishment in 1980, the company has offered a wide range of products, including pharmaceutical ingredient (API) intermediates tailored for pharmaceutical companies, packaging solutions crafted from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which are designed for industrial applications, as well as nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers. Additionally, Organic manufactures sodium bentonite for civil engineering purposes and calcium bentonite utilized in cosmetics and pellet binder production. In 2012, the company's manufacturing plant in Ankleshwar, Gujarat received NSF/ANSI/CAN International (NSF) Standard 60 certification.
RAHA GROUP, formed in 2011, is a producer and supplier of petroleum products, including Bitumen, Gilsonite, Paraffin wax, Petroleum jelly, Lubricant, and more. With ownership of a Gilsonite mine and Bitumen refinery in Iran, they offer a wide range of Bituminous products, Oxidized bitumen, Bitumen emulsion, and cutback bitumen. Additionally, they are shareholders of two major paraffin wax and petroleum jelly factories in Iran. The company conducts business in over 140 countries as a supplier of Bitumen, Gilsonite, and Paraffin. They provide FOB/CFR shipments to major world ports from offices in Dubai, Turkey, and Iran.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minerals Technologies Inc. |
14.5%
|
| 2 | Wyo-Ben, Inc. |
9.2%
|
| 3 | CB Minerals LLC |
7.8%
|
| 4 | SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp |
7.1%
|
| 5 | Bisley International LLC |
6.9%
|
| 6 | Bentonite |
6.3%
|
| 7 | Bulk Apothecary |
5.6%
|
| 8 | Sure Fluids |
5.0%
|
| 9 | J&H Minerals |
4.8%
|
| 10 | Zhejiang Yuhong New Materials Co., Ltd. |
4.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the bentonite page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
8 | 44.4% |
|
India
|
4 | 22.2% |
| UAE | 2 | 11.1% |
|
Spain
|
1 | 5.6% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 5.6% |
|
China
|
1 | 5.6% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 5.6% |
