Bentonite is a widely-used absorbent swelling clay that holds various applications in the industry. Montmorillonite, which can be either Na-montmorillonite or Ca-montmorillonite, makes up the majority of it. Fertilizer bentonite is a grade of this substance suitable for agricultural usage. This grade contains unique properties, making it a reliable option for the industry. Still, the in-demand companies should be cautious in applying this substance since some producers of fertilizer bentonite present a low-purity product with weak properties. If these grades of bentonite are involved in the industry, the proper outcome will not appear. As a result, finding a reputable fertilizer manufacturer turns out to be a simple but vital step.
Iran Bentonite Co. is a reputable manufacturer of fertilizer bentonite in a variety of purity levels and physicochemical properties. Equipped factories are in the service of this company to present you with one of the highest quality outcomes available. From every corner of the world, you can rely on fertilizer bentonite from this Iran Bentonite Supplier without any hesitation. It is also worth mentioning that you can rely on Iran Bentonite Co. even for other grades of bentonite suitable for different applications in other industries.
What Is Bentonite?
Bentonite is a clay generally produced by altering volcanic ash; this substance primarily consists of smectite minerals, typically montmorillonite. A hectorite, a saponite, a beidellite, and a nontronite are all members of the smectite group. Clay minerals, or smectites, are made up of tiny crystallites, the bulk of which have a maximum dimension of 2 m. Smectite crystallites are composed of clay minerals that have three layers. They are made up of one octahedral layer and two tetrahedral layers. Tetrahedral layers made of [SiO4] – tetrahedrons surround the [M(O5, OH)]-octahedron layer in montmorillonite (M = and primarily Al, Mg, although Fe is also frequently seen). The intercrystallite region’s exchangeable ions balance the silicate layers’ small negative charge. The cations (in natural form, primarily Ca2+, Mg2+, or Na+ ions) can be adsorbed in this area with their hydrate shell since the charge is so mild. Hydration levels cause intercrystallite swelling.
Bentonites contain a range of accessory minerals in addition to montmorillonite, depending on their genesis. These minerals could include gypsum, quartz, feldspar, and calcite. Depending on the use, the existence of these minerals might affect a deposit’s industrial value, lowering or raising it. When in contact with water, bentonite exhibits significant colloidal qualities, and its volume multiplies many times, resulting in a gelatinous and viscous fluid. Bentonite is a valuable substance for a variety of uses and applications due to its unique characteristics, including moisture content, swelling, water absorption, viscosity, and thixotropy.
What Is Fertilizer Bentonite?
Fertilizer grade of bentonite powder, For Agriculture and Vegetables is a commercial type of this bentonite specific to its applications. It is essential to know that Iran Bentonite manufacturers (so-called Иран производитель бентонита by Russians) take into account particular processes and technologies to produce fertilizer bentonite to fit its usage. It is also crucial to know that quarrying is the typical method used to exploit bentonite deposits. Even at a moisture level of around 30%, extracted bentonite is solid. The material is first crushed, then, if necessary, soda ash is added to activate it (Na2CO3). Then, the bentonite is dried (forced or air drying) to a moisture content of around 15%. The final use determines whether bentonite is sieved (granular form) or milled (into powder and super fine powder form). For specialized uses, bentonite is refined by eliminating the gangue minerals, acid-activated bentonite (bleaching piles of the earth), organoclays, or bentonite treated with organics.
Bentonite clay manufacturers had discovered a solution for soil degradation involving bentonite. The inability of the soil to hold water is one of the main effects of erosion and soil deterioration. They found that adding bentonite clay to farming soil improves water retention and crop availability. Because of its low price and widespread availability, farmers benefit from this substance. It is also vital to know that manufacturers of fertilizers frequently use this bentonite as an environmentally friendly fertilizer binder. This substance, along with montmorillonite, also contains a range of accessory minerals, making it a perfect choice as a fertilizer material. The use of Bentonite clay technology significantly enhanced yields and farmer earnings while also revitalizing the deteriorated soils. The soil is improved and maintained using it as ion exchange. It can be utilized as a porous ceramic carrier for different insecticides and herbicides after thermally processing. Fertilizer bentonite holds various properties when applied in agriculture-related industries, such as:
- lowers soil pH for alkaline soils or increases soil acidity;
- Increases absorption of micronutrients, phosphate, and nitrogen;
- Maintain resistance to leaching until sulfate is formed.;
- The rate of root growth increases, ensuring that the plant absorbs the most nutrients from the soil;
- Increases Groundnuts and other oil seeds have high oil content;
- Enhances both the amount and quality of pulses.
Different Grades Of Fertilizer Bentonite
Bentonite is classified based on its physiochemical properties, ingredients, and applications. Each of these grades consists of separately suitable materials designed for specific usage. To learn about each bentonite grade, such as fertilizer, we should first consider two primary types of this substance: Sodium and calcium bentonite clay. Both are mainly composed of sodium or calcium and crystalline clay mineral aluminum silicate. As a result, the two types of bentonite clay have highly distinct qualities depending on whether they include sodium or calcium.
Sodium bentonite, On the one hand, is very absorbent and adsorbent, which means it can swell and attract contaminants to its negatively charged surface as well as attract positively charged molecules (such toxins) to its internal structure (absorb) (adsorb). These characteristics make sodium bentonite, commonly referred to as swelling clay, such a potent cleansing compound. On the other hand, calcium Bentonite is a non-swelling mineral that is less frequently utilized in cosmetic and health procedures.
Bentonite can also be categorized based on its varied applications in diverse industries. Usually, it is used in industries, such as:
- Foundry;
- Cat Litter;
- Pelletizing;
- Construction and Civil Engineering;
- Environmental Markets;
- Drilling;
- Food Market;
- Agriculture;
- Pharmaceuticals;
- Detergents;
- Paints.
Please remember that for each of these applications, there is a specific grade of bentonite that is specifically boosted for its use and includes properties that may be demanded; for instance, we can employ the fertilizer grade of bentonite in agricultural usage because of its properties.
Fertilizer bentonite contains various grades, as well. One of its grades is fertilizer Bentonite Sulphur with different properties. Straight sulphatic fertilizer made of sulfur and bentonite clay is called bentonite sulfur. These fertilizers contain the most sulfur (90%) of any other group of sulfated fertilizers. Due to this, bentonite sulfur is more effective at providing crops with sulfur. Sulfur is the fourth major plant nutrient in fertilizers after the minerals N, P, and K. Sulfur is a crucial element in producing the amino acids needed to make proteins. Chlorophyll synthesis and phosphorus and other essential elements are both dependent on sulfur. This substance also can be divided into different grades based on the factors below:
- Sulfur content;
- Percentage of Bentonite Clay;
- Moisture percentage;
- Particle size;
- Color.
Fertilizer Bentonite Production Process
Regardless of the grade, the bentonite production process usually is performed by following steps:
- Mining;
- Open stockpiling;
- Crushing;
- Drying;
- Final grinding.
It is also worth mentioning that after these procedures and when drying is finished, the material is sieved, air categorized, and silo-stored. The small grain class is aggregated if material with bigger grain size is needed. Fines may also be compacted between rollers with specialized surfaces to create agglomeration.
Quarrying is the typical method used to exploit bentonite deposits. Bentonite that has been extracted is solid, even though it has a high moisture content of about 30%. The material is first chopped or crushed; if necessary, soda ash is added to activate it (Na2 CO3 ). To achieve the desired moisture content, bentonite is dried (by air or forced drying). In terms of dried bentonite’s moisture content, the EUBA reports that it is 15%, the Wyoming Mining Association (WMA) that it is between 5-20%, and the SBM Group, a Chinese manufacturer and supplier of processing equipment, that it is between 6-12%.
Bentonite is sieved (granular form) or milled depending on the intended use (into powder and superfine powder form). For specific uses, bentonite is purified by removing the gangue minerals, or it is subjected to an acid treatment to create acid-activated bentonite (bleaching piles of the earth), or it is subjected to an organic treatment to make organoclays (EUBA).
The Size-Reduction Process
The initial step in processing bentonite is drying it in rotary kilns to a moisture level of 5 to 8%, grinding it in high-speed roller mills, and grading it into sizes using cyclones and screens. Bentonite is generally easy to process, but because of its strong propensity to absorb moisture, great care must be taken to choose the right size reduction tool. The primary size reduction process in a crusher that uses impact as the principal comminution mechanism may not be efficient if the raw bentonite has a substantial amount of moisture. Typically, roller crushers are an excellent choice for the initial crushing of wet and sticky materials. These crushers include toothed rollers specifically intended to shred vast blocks of clay into smaller pieces for processing. However, jaw crushers and cone crushers can also be used.
Size-reduction equipment known as ring roller mills perform the operations of size reduction, drying, conveying, and beneficiation. Feed size 50 mm is ground to varied-size products with minimum fines of 0.037 mm or 3.36 mm granulation. With a moisture level of 15-32%, wet-fed bentonite is fluid bed dried to a moisture content of 7-11%. A fluid bed drying process reduces Fuller’s earth’s 47% moisture content to 30–35% moisture. Conveying is dust-free thanks to a negative pressure air system. Grinding is accomplished in tandem with the liberation and removal of foreign contaminants, such as silica, using an auxiliary bottom discharge.
The Drying Process
The following stages in bentonite processing include milling and rotary kiln drying. The choice of the mill determines the order of the steps. The crushed material is dried before milling if the mill is moisture-sensitive (i.e., if milling the wet material is ineffective). The material generated may be of sufficient wetness for the finished product if the chosen mill is of the ring roller mill (Raymond) type or fluid energy mill (Sturtevant Micronizer) type that uses an air stream or fluidized bed to promote drying and conveying. If not, drying the bentonite after grinding is an option.
The most crucial characteristics of the montmorillonite, the ability to reabsorb interlayer water and to expand, are lost if dried (heated) over a specific temperature, which is, respectively, 105–125°C, 300–390°C, and 390–490°C for Li montmorillonite, H or Ca montmorillonite, and Na montmorillonite. Many sodium bentonites can be safely dried at temperatures up to 205°C, and they can be repeatedly wetted and dried without losing their swelling (colloidal) qualities. Commercial bentonite drying experience has demonstrated that, while swelling is often not too difficult as long as some water is present between the layers, restoring interlayer water in practice is challenging once the final trace of interlayer water is eliminated.
Fertilizer Bentonite Applications
Before discussing the applications of fertilizer bentonite, it is necessary to learn that the reactivity of bentonite with various substances, including water, organic materials, and amines, determines how it functions. The industrial application of this substance includes using Bentonite as a compost or refining industrial and edible oils and chemicals, drilling oil and gas wells, industrial adhesives, retaining water, and various other products. As mentioned before, another critical feature of bentonite is the environment in which the mineral was formed. Based on this environment, the mineral can be classified as sodium bentonite or calcium bentonite. In comparison to calcium bentonite, sodium bentonite is more prone to swelling.
In previous sections, we also explained that each grade of bentonite holds specific properties that make it a suitable option for employment in a particular industrial sector. Fertilizer bentonite also follows this rule; it means this grade contains unique benefits and properties, allowing it to be a perfect choice for agricultural applications, such as:
- The application of bentonite enhances the moisture status of sandy soils, increasing grain yields and seed quality;
- It helps to increase nutrient availability, retention, and CEC (cation exchange capacity);
- It increases the effectiveness of fertilizer use, which raises agricultural yield;
- It increases the availability of nutrients to plants, whether from fertilizers or other sources;
- It boosts the soil’s available moisture content;
- It improves sandy soil structure.
Iran Fertilizer Bentonite mainly serves as a feed additive in agriculture. It promotes normalizing metabolic processes, improves the utilization of minerals, minor nutrient elements, and vitamins, and increases animal productivity. Bentonite also plays a significant role in the proliferation of organs and tissues. It enhances the granules’ strength during granulation and is thermostable. High adsorption and catalytic activity can be found in bentonite. It absorbs hazardous compounds such as alkaloids, paints, heavy metals, microbial toxicity, nitrates, and nitrites.
Bentonite In Rejuvenating Soils
Unsustainable land management results in increased land degradation, decreased soil fertility, and soil erosion, directly impacting agricultural output. To improve soil fertility and agricultural productivity, inorganic fertilizers are widely utilized. Long-term use of mineral fertilizers in soils with low levels of organic compounds speeds up the mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM). It interferes with soil organisms’ normal metabolic processes. It causes the SOM concentration to decrease, nutrient imbalances, and soil acidification. Consequently, natural additions like bentonite and its mixture with manure may be helpful instruments to maintain or grow the SOM sustainably.
Bentonite is frequently used to rehabilitate polluted land because it immobilizes hazardous xenobiotic chemicals (herbicides and antibiotics) in the soil. The efficacy of bentonite clay composite as a technique for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil has also been investigated. Successful use of bentonite amendment speeds up salt removal, lowers salt concentration, and enhances the physical and chemical characteristics. The cleanup and regeneration of heavily salinized coastal land successfully use bentonite addition as a critical soil amelioration strategy. Due to its high cationic exchange capacity, which aids in the revival of bare ground and promotes plant development, bentonite can enhance a soil’s capability to absorb nutrients. It is also employed as a chemical and physical soil conditioner.
Sulphur Bentonite Uses In Agriculture
Sulfur-bentonite fertilizer is a granular fertilizer (or granular bentonite sulfur fertilizer) that gives plants the quantity of sulfur they require while reestablishing the soil’s alkaline balance. The tiniest particles in sulfur bentonite cause fertilizer granules to swiftly degrade the soil. Complex nutrients are released from the ground when sulfur-bentonite fertilizer is used.
In plants, this substance is crucial to the process of synthesis. Sulfur-bentonite fertilizer is used to promote plant development. Using it reduces alkaline soil’s pH and can be cultivated again, improving plants’ ability to absorb nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphates, and trace elements. The importance of fertilizer sulfur bentonite is that it makes plants more resistant to cold. The majority of the sulfur in sulfur bentonite, a complex fertilizer, is transformed into sulfate, which gives plants the nutrients they require for this element. It is also helpful to know that sulfur bentonite’s combined actions lead to a plentiful harvest of grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Bentonite As A Carrier
Bentonite is an inert carrier for herbicides, fertilizers, and fire retardants. It helps to ensure that the active component is distributed evenly and that pesticides and fertilizer are retained on the plants.
About Iran Bentonite Co’s Product
Iran Bentonite Co. is a prominent manufacturer and exporter in this industry that employs high-purity raw materials and skilled experts to create a flawless supply chain with a reliable outcome. Various grades of bentonite with different amounts of purity are produced by this Iran bentonite manufacturer (or الشركة المصنعة إيران البنتونيت in the Arabic language). We at Iran Bentonite Co. trust our professionals to serve you with the purest fertilizer bentonite available in the market. You can easily go for our products from every corner of the world and count on our smooth method for supplying and exporting this material.
Regarding dealing with Iran bentonite Co., customers can enjoy a wide range of products and various logistics options. Thanks to this Iran Bentonite manufacturer, you can select your intended grade of bentonite with different amounts of purity, Moisture, and particle size, from an array of products available, such as Bentonite organic fertilizer. All the products are packed based on international methods to ensure safety, but every consumer can order their preferred way of packing and exporting the product. To get more details about these services, please contact our experts.
Conclusion
Fertilizer bentonite is a grade of sodium bentonite with unique properties that lead to several special applications for this grade. Fertilizer bentonite can be divided into different qualities on its moisture content, particle size, and color; it also can be provided as bentonite sulfur. The production process of this substance involves mining, open stockpiling, crushing, and drying. Still, this process has many complicated details that result in different outcomes. Bio fertilizer bentonite is mainly employed in the agricultural sector for various applications, such as a carrier and a substance for rejuvenating soils.
