What is special about montmorillonite clay?

Montmorillonite is a very soft phyllosilicate group of minerals that form when they precipitate from water solution as microscopic crystals, known as clay. It is named after Montmorillon in France. The water content of montmorillonite is variable and it increases greatly in volume when it absorbs water.

Is montmorillonite clay safe to eat?

Though both clays are edible and beneficial to health, montmorillonite clay is rarer than bentonite clay and is found in fewer deposits than the latter.

How do you use montmorillonite clay?

Mix bentonite clay powder with water to make a thick paste. Apply to the areas of skin that are prone to oil or acne. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Repeat two or three times per week.

Is montmorillonite a good soil for building?

Buildings and other structures should never be founded on soils rich in montmorillonite. Even the suspicion of the existence of this type of clay at a construction site should be a signal for the need of an in-depth analysis of the soil characteristics.

What is the difference between bentonite and montmorillonite clay?

Montmorillonite clays and Bentonite clays are one and the same thing. All types of Bentonite clays are grouped together under the Montmorillonite or Smectite group of clays. Essentially, Bentonite and Montmorillonite are the same thing, with those specified as 100% Montmorillonite are the purest on the earth.

Is bentonite clay safe to ingest?

Bentonite clay can also be consumed in small amounts. You can purchase bentonite clay capsules online or from a health food store. Taking the capsules may boost immunity by fighting off bacteria that could make you sick. It may also help cleanse your body of built-up toxins like aluminum, mercury, and lead.

What are the mechanical properties of organophilic montmorillonite?

When the content of organophilic montmorillonite is between 25% and 5%, the mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength, the impact strength, the heat resistance, and the swelling resistance of the hybrid, are enhanced.

What is montmorillonite MMT?

Montmorillonite (MMT) belongs to the smectite clay group, and has tremendous intercalation properties, a robust adsorption, and elevated affinity to organic molecules and heavy metals due to its intrinsic inorganic layered nanostructure [27].

How to prepare organophilic clays from MMT?

The functionalization of MMT can be achieved with polymerizable cationic surfactants, e.g., with vinylbenzyldodecyldimethyl ammonium chloride or vinylbenzyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (VOAC). Polymerizable organophilic clays have been prepared by exchanging the sodium ions of MMT with these polymerizable cationic surfactants [83].

What is the chemical formula for montmorillonite?

Montmorillonite is a group of expanding-lattice clay minerals of general formula: R0.33 Al 2 Si 4 O 10 (OH) 2 + n H 2 O, where R represents one or more of the cations Na +, Ka +, Mg 2 +, Ca 2 +, and possibly others (Glossary of Geology).