What is Bentonite?
Sodium bentonite is an absorbent swelling smectite clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. Upon contact with moisture, the volume of sodium bentonite enlarges by approximately fifteen times its dry volume.
Bentonite Properties
Bentonite contains a significant percentage of smectite. In clay mineralogy smectite is classified as a 2:1 clay. This is because it consists of one octahedral sheet positioned between two tetrahedral sheets. One layer is alumina while the other two are silica.The three layer crystalline structure described classifies it as a clay mineral. Smectites may swell when water enters in between the clay layers. The constitution of smectites consists of layers of aluminosilicate sheets which are negatively charged. Charge balancing exchangeable counter ions, such as NA+ or even CA2+, actually hold the sheets together. Hydration of these cations forces the clay layers apart. This ultimately results in the swelling of the bentonite.
Absorbent
Swelling
Colloidal
Thixotropic
High Plasticity
Sodium Bentonite: Environmental pond and soil sealant
Atrium Lightweight Materials offers natural sodium bentonite as an effective pond and soil sealant. The versatile and hygroscopic characteristics of natural sodium bentonite make it the ideal material for the safe sealing of ponds, lagoons and various infrastructure applications. The flexible, expanding and self sealing bentonite properties are intrinsic when precluding the permeability of water into a soil. Other options such as liners or concrete are usually static and unable to adjust to a change in soil especially in a climate with a variable freeze thaw cycle. Sodium bentonite is organic by nature while simultaneously maintaining its effectiveness.
What is Sodium Bentonite?
Sodium bentonite is a colloidal clay sealant that has multiple applications. These include sealing landfills, ponds and sewage lagoons. Bentonite is also utilized in plugging up drilling holes. Sodium bentonite is known as the clay of 1000 applications. It is a clay which consists of a combined plate structure and a surface which includes sodium ions. Once exposed to water these sodium ions hydrate which generates a negative charge on the bentonite plate. This negative charge causes the plates within the structure to separate which results in “swelling.” This is how bentonite derives its unique sealing attributes. Sodium bentonite is a flexible clay with a high plasticity. It never becomes rigid, sets or cures so it is not subject to tearing or cracking.
Sodium bentonite clay is recognized as an effective and affordable method for treating porous soils and sealing pools of toxic waste along with abandoned water and oil wells.
What is the role of Sodium Bentonite?
Sodium bentonite clay performs well as a sealant because of its thixotropic interaction with water. Once hydrated sodium bentonite will swell up to 15 times its original size. Its successful performance as a sealant has been affirmed over several years of research. This is also why the United States government has required all landfills and waste disposal sites utilize sodium bentonite as a soil sealant in order to preclude leeching and contamination of hazardous chemicals into ground water. Due to the manner in which the bentonite swells it forms a strong watertight and chemical-proof sealant. A sodium bentonite soil sealant system facilitates the development of freshwater and effluent storage lagoons. Many municipal sewage oxidation lagoons have operated effectively for many years utilizing an economic bentonite soil sealant system. Industrial sanitary landfills utilize bentonite for effective leachate seepage control. Any potential future leak is precluded by the natural sealing smectite activity within the structure of the sodium bentonite.
Pond Sealant
Pond Sealant
Pond Sealant
When it comes to sealing ponds and preventing leaks, utilizing a quality pond sealer is essential!
Application Methods
Sprinkle
Blanket
Mixed Blanket
Sprinkle
Blanket
Mixed Blanket
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