Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Chemical Family
- Industrial Additives Functions
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
- Industrial Additives Features
Applications & Uses
- Markets
- Applications
- Applicable Processes
- Industrial Additives End Use
- How Does Sodium Bentonite Work?
Texas sodium bentonite swells 15-18 times its dry size when wetted by water.
Over several years of testing, Sodium bentonite has proven to be one of the most effective sealants on the market. The United States E.P.A. has ruled that all landfills and waste disposal sites must be lined to prevent the leaching of hazardous chemicals into the existing ground water to protect the environment. The fact that sodium bentonite swells many times its mass, then forms a strong water and chemical proof seal makes it an ideal, inexpensive, permanent, and easy to install liner. Sodium bentonite is environmentally friendly and safe to use.
If you are considering using bentonite as a pond sealant, Please read on!
- There are two types of Bentonite clay.
- One is a sodium bentonite. Sodium bentonite has a natural swelling ability and will maintain its swelling ability throughout its use.
- The other is a calcium bentonite. Calcium bentonite is a non-swelling bentonite. It will not swell without additives or chemicals. Calcium bentonite enhanced with additives will quickly lose its swell.It is short lived.
- It is the swelling ability of the sodium bentonite that enables this clay to bond with the soil to create an impenetrable liner in the soil.
- Bentonite's are mined clays.
The quality of the bentonite deposits will vary. Some deposits of Sodium Bentonite are very high quality swelling deposits, while others are not as good. Some of the best deposits are deep in the ground and will require many man-hours recovering this bentonite.
So a good quality sodium bentonite begins with a good deposit!
- Next, the processing of this clay plays a big part in the quality of the end product.
All bentonites will contain a percentage of other minerals; Aluminum Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Oxide, to name a few and a percentage of sand and silt. It is the process of removing the sand and silt from the bentonite that will produce a higher quality product. The process of removing most of the sand and silt takes time and is costly.
Some companies are not interested in producing a quality product. Thus they will use poor deposits of bentonite and process the material quickly enabling them to sell their product at a cheaper price. However, if this product were tested, it would probably result in a large percentage of sand; something a leaky pond does not need.
The key to using bentonite to seal a pond is:
- Use a high quality sodium bentonite
- Apply the product properly
- Use the recommended amount based on your soil type and square footage of area being treated.
- And remember: Cheaper is Not better!
- Uses
Many Uses ofSodium Bentonite:
- Pond sealant
- Lagoon, Dairy, sewage, feedlot, etc
- Waste water treatment
- Hazardous & Non hazardous liquid retention ponds
- Hole plug-seismic & cathotic plugging
- Feed binders as a binder
- Natural pesticide carrier
- All natural clumping cat litter
- All natural odor absorbent
- Bathing minerals and toxin absorbent
- Cleansing facial masks to absorb impurities
- Drilling mud for oil drilling
- As a bond for sand grains in foundries
- For palletizing solidified iron ore to suite reduction processing in blast furnaces
- Injected through fissures and cracks to prevent water from passing into constructions.
- Purification and color reduction of fats, oils, and waxes
- Small amounts of bentonite are used in the absorption of oils and greases, in paint, paper industry, cosmetics, insecticides, and in ceramic industries
- Wine making process
- It is used in some soaps
- Dust control
- Water proofing basements and underground cellars
- Long lasting soil stabilization
- Colon cleanser
- Healing clay
- Septic tank & cesspool liners
- How to Apply
Pure Blanket Method
- Clear the area of any surface rocks and vegetation, as well as removing the top four to six inches of soil from the bed of the pond, lake, sewage lagoon, etc. For best results, smooth the area with a roll or a drag plank. Cover the area you want to seal with the predetermined thickness of our Granular Texas Sodium Bentonite. A mechanical dry fertilizer spreader with controlled distribution is a good application device as well as a front-end loader.
- The main idea is to get a solid cover over the area you want to seal. Avoid leaving bare spots that may result in seepage. It is probable that these bare areas will be covered as the Sodium Bentonite begins to swell. However, applying a uniform layer during application assures complete coverage and a successful seal. After spreading the Sodium Bentonite, carefully replace the top four to six inches of soil removed earlier. Avoid disturbing the Bentonite liner. Then tamp the area to compact the surface. Begin filling with water (gentle flow) if possible. The full saturation of this product may take approximately 60 - 90 days.
- In all methods of Sodium Bentonite application, it's the swelling of the particles that stop the leak. Sodium Bentonite will not stop the leak immediately. Some seepage is to be expected for up to 60 and 90 days after the Sodium Bentonite is applied. Generally, the leak is stopped or at least slowed within 45 days but, due to underlying circumstances such as rocks, roots and underground springs, some ponds require more Sodium Bentonite than the recommended amount. Some ponds, due to poor site selection, improper design and poor construction, may never seal completely. Therefore, we cannot guarantee this product.
Keep in mind these two things when sealing a pond or stock tank:
- It is essential to use the recommended amount of sodium bentonite per square foot based on your soil type and the size of area you are trying to cover. Also, an even application ensures an impenetrable bentonite liner.
Mixed Blanket Method
- The Mixed Blanket Method may be used for seepage control in new ponds, reservoirs, sewage lagoons or in old ones that can be drained. When this method is used, no specialized equipment is necessary. Clear the area of all rocks and vegetation and then smooth the surface. In situations where there has been erosion, we recommend to disk or roto-till the area 2" - 3" deep after smoothing. Then apply our Granular Sodium Bentonite at the recommended rate (pounds per sq. ft. for your particular soil type). This can be done with a mechanical dry fertilizer spreader with controlled distribution or a front-end loader, etc.
- After the distribution has been completed, then thoroughly mix the Sodium Bentonite and soil with a disk or roto-tiller to a depth of no greater than 1" - 2". To disk or roto-till the soil and Bentonite mixture to a greater depth than 2" will reduce and dilute the recommended amount of Sodium Bentonite per sq. ft. unless of course the greater depth was taken into consideration. After the Sodium Bentonite and soil have been thoroughly mixed, then tamp it down or go over the distribution area with your present equipment. After this step, if at all possible, we like to use sprinklers and wet this area. This allows the Bentonite to absorb the moisture and bond with the surrounding soil. After this has been completed, than allow water to flow gently into the reservoir, lake, pond, etc. and fill. The effectiveness of this method becomes complete after approx. 60 - 90 days.
- In all methods of Sodium Bentonite application, it's the swelling of the particles that stop the leak. Sodium Bentonite will not stop the leak immediately. Some seepage is to be expected for up to 60 and 90 days after the Sodium Bentonite is applied. Generally, the leak is stopped or at least slowed within 45 days but, due to underlying circumstances such as rocks, roots and underground springs, some ponds require more Sodium Bentonite than the recommended amount. Some ponds, due to poor site selection, improper design and poor construction, may never seal completely. Therefore, we cannot guarantee this product.
Keep in mind these two things when sealing a pond or stock tank:
- It is essential to use the recommended amount of sodium bentonite per square foot based on your soil type and the size of area you are trying to cover. Also, an even application ensures an impenetrable bentonite liner.
Sprinkle Method
- This does not give the water loss control that either the Pure Blanket or the Mixed Blanket techniques do because they assure proper placement of the Granular Sodium Bentonite. However, the Sprinkle Method is the best way to control water loss when it is not practical to drain the area to be treated. As with the Pure Blanket Method and the Mixed Blanket Method, first you need to determine the sq. ft. of the area you want to seal and the type of soil you will be working with.
- Then flag the area either with flagged markers, upright colored cones, etc. to be sure of covering the designated area with our granular Bentonite, at the recommended amount per square foot according to the size of your pond, lake, reservoir, etc. The size and slope of your pond will determine the type of equipment you can use to do this type of distribution. In some instances, you can use a mechanical dry fertilizer spreader, which works off the P.T.O. of a tractor and get an even distribution. When this is not possible, then you can use floating devices, (flat bottom boats, working barges, floating docks, etc.) with hoppers to get an even distribution of the Granular Sodium Bentonite on top of the water's surface.
- Our Granular Bentonite goes in on top of the water and sinks to the bottom of the water. One of the main reasons that the Sprinkle Method may not give the water loss control that either the Pure Blanket or the Mixed Blanket techniques do, is because we do not always know what is on the bottom of the pond. Some ponds have old tires, cedar or pine Christmas trees at the bottom for fish to spawn. Some ponds have large rocks, logs, trees, moss, and / or vegetation. All of these factors need to be considered. If the bottom of the pond is cleared of all trash and debris, then the success rate of the Sprinkle Method is much greater. Applying the Sodium Bentonite at a consistent rate insures a good cover.
- Loading sodium bentoniteThe Sodium Bentonite granules will fall to the bottom of the pond where it begins absorbing the water and starts to swell. It then goes into a gel that sticks to the bottom or sides of the pond, depending on where it was applied. A percentage of this gel will follow the flow of the water to help seek out the cracks an crevices where seepage occurs. However, you must apply the recommended amount of Sodium Bentonite to insure that there is enough to form a solid layer liner over the area you want to seal.
- The effectiveness of this Method depends upon accurately pinpointing the areas of seepage and applying the Sodium Bentonite to these spots. If you are not sure where the leaks are located or you have a very porous soil type, then you may need to treat the whole area for best results. During application a light cloudiness of the water may occur. However, the cloudiness will clear within a few days as the sodium bentonite begins to hydrate and settle in the pond. Effectiveness of this Method usually occurs 60 - 90 days after treatment. For faster, ideal results, but not mandatory, we recommend the water level be maintained if at all possible, equal to the height of the Bentonite distribution for 30 - 60 days to allow the Sodium Bentonite to become fully hydrated.
- In all methods of Sodium Bentonite application, it's the swelling of the particles that stop the leak. Sodium Bentonite will not stop the leak immediately. Some seepage is to be expected for up to 60 and 90 days after the Sodium Bentonite is applied. Generally, the leak is stopped or at least slowed within 45 days, but due to underlying circumstances such as rocks, roots and underground springs, some ponds require more Sodium Bentonite than the recommended amount. Some ponds, due to poor site selection, improper design and poor construction, may never seal completely. Therefore, we cannot guarantee this product.
Keep in mind these two things when sealing a pond or stock tank:
- It is essential to use the recommended amount of sodium bentonite per square foot based on your soil type and the size of area you are trying to cover. Also, an even application ensures an impenetrable bentonite liner.