Summary:Bentonite is important clay minerals in drilling mud industry. In this paper, bentonite milling process and factory supplier are described.
Bentonite Types And Properties
Bentonite clay is a raw material mined in open pit quarries. With its extraordinary properties, It is one of the most important clay minerals in modern industry.
There are 2 types of Bentonite:
Sodium Bentonite which has a natural swelling ability and will maintain its swelling ability throughout its use.
Calcium Bentonite marketed as Fuller's Earth and used to refine petroleum products, oils and fats.
Bentonite deposits are usually quite large, with lenticular beds, only a few meters deep. Bentonite is processed to provide calcium and sodium montmorillonite, organoclays and activated clays all of which have different characteristics which can be used in a wide range of application.
Bentonite For Drilling Mud In Turkey
Conventional use of bentonite is as a mud constituent for oil and water well drilling. Its roles are mainly to seal the borehole walls, to remove drill cuttings and to lubricate the cutting head.
Bentonite is commonly chosen for this application because of a few key characteristics, namely, its ability to swell upon hydration, its high viscosity when paired with water, and its thixotropic nature, which promotes rapid gel formation when the drill stops, suspending cuttings, and then resumes a fluid state when drilling restarts. Other important properties of bentonite in drilling mud include a high gel strength and low permeability as a filter cake.
As swelling is a critical quality in this setting, drilling muds primarily employ sodium bentonite.
Bentonite is valued in foundry sand binding, drilling mud, iron ore pelletisation and as a waterproofing and sealing agent in civil engineering works. Processing is a prerequisite for bentonite marketing.
How is bentonite processed?
First, by drying in the rotary kilns to touch the moisture for 5% to 8%, bentonite is processed.
Second, it is grounded in high-speed roller mills.
Third, it is classified into the size grades through sieves and cyclones.
Fourth, using grinding machines such as: MTW grinding mill and SCM ultrafine mill, feed size of 50 mm is grinded to different sizes as fine as 0.03 mm, or to granulation 3.3 mm containing a minimum of fines.
Fifth, wet fed bentonite containing moisture of 15% to 32%, is fluid bed dried to the moisture content of 7% to 11%. Fuller’s earth having a moisture content of 47% is fluid bed dried to 30% to 35% moisture.
Sixth, the Negative pressure air system ends in dust-free conveying. Release and elimination of foreign materials like silica through supporting bottom discharge is achieved at the same time with grinding.
SBM-Bentonite Milling Factory Supplier
Bentonite can be processed in several ways to optimize properties for the individual uses. We have many grinding plants in Turkey that turn the raw bentonite clay into consistent quality products for a variety of our customers’ applications. If you want to visit the production line, we can arrange it for free!
SBM is equipped with both the expertise and milling machines to assist bentonite producers in meeting production goals and evaluating intended process. For more information about bentonite processing, contact us today!
Read More About Bentonite
Sodium Bentonite Vs Calcium Bentonite
