Bentonite Clay and its Potential Applications
Sara Efigênia Dantas de Mendonça y Araújo, Adrian Lima Roberto, Jayane Ellen Pereira Farias, João Augusto Oshiro Junior
Bentonite is the commercial name given to a group of natural clays made up of a mixture of minerals belonging to the smectites. Its composition varies according to the geographical region of origin and the way the bentonite is extracted, which can vary the material’s properties. The independent negative charge, the presence of easily exchangeable cations, and swelling are fundamental properties that can vary in intensity depending on the composition of these clays. Montmorillonite (MMT) is the most abundant component of Bentonite and has an excellent ability to adsorb positive charges from toxins when they come into contact with water. In addition, this clay can be exposed to additional treatments, which can modify its structure and increase its properties. As a result, this clay can be used in a wide range of areas, from pharmaceuticals and biomedicine to agriculture and engineering. Therefore, this chapter will provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of bentonite’s various applications, focusing on its use in the production of pharmaceutical formulations, in cosmetic products, in the controlled release of drugs, in detoxification pharmacological activity, cholesterol reduction, anti-inflammatory action, as well as its potential in the treatment of bone tissue and cancer, among other areas. By exploring its unique properties and versatility, the chapter highlights the fundamental role of this clay in sectors such as health, beauty, and materials technology.
Keywords
Smectite, Montmorillonite, Environment-Friendly, Phyllosilicates, Low Cost
Published online 3/20/2025, 21 pages
Citation: Sara Efigênia Dantas de Mendonça y Araújo, Adrian Lima Roberto, Jayane Ellen Pereira Farias, João Augusto Oshiro Junior, Bentonite Clay and its Potential Applications, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 173, pp 124-144, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903452-5
Part of the book on Mesoporous Materials
References
[1] A. B. Mapossa, A. H. da Silva Júnior, C. R. S. de Oliveira, and W. Mhike, “Thermal, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Multifunctional Composites Based on Biodegradable Polymers/Bentonite Clay: A Review,” Aug. 01, 2023, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163443.
[2] F. Uddin, “Montmorillonite: An Introduction to Properties and Utilization,” in Current Topics in the Utilization of Clay in Industrial and Medical Applications, InTech, 2018. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77987.
[3] L. D. Maxim, R. Niebo, and E. E. McConnell, “Bentonite toxicology and epidemiology – a review,” Nov. 09, 2016, Taylor and Francis Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1080/08958378.2016.1240727.
[4] D. Gandhi, R. Bandyopadhyay, and B. Soni, “Naturally occurring bentonite clay: Structural augmentation, characterization, and application as a catalyst,” Mater Today Proc, vol. 57, pp. 194–201, Jan. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.02.346.
[5] M. Belghazdis and E.-K. Hachem, “Clay and Clay Minerals: A Detailed Review,” International Journal of Recent Technology and Applied Science, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 54–75, Sep. 2022. https://doi.org/10.36079/lamintang.ijortas-0402.367.
[6] F. E. Jalal, Y. Xu, X. Li, B. Jamhiri, and M. Iqbal, “Fractal approach in expansive clay-based materials with special focus on compacted GMZ bentonite in nuclear waste disposal: a systematic review,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 28, pp. 43287–43314, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14707-7/Published.
[7] N. Yaghmaeiyan, M. Mirzaei, and R. Delghavi, “Montmorillonite clay: Introduction and evaluation of its applications in different organic syntheses as catalyst: A review,” Results Chem, vol. 4, Jan. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rechem.2022.100549.
[8] E. Srasra and I. Bekri-Abbes, “Bentonite Clays for Therapeutic Purposes and Biomaterial Design,” Curr Pharm Des, vol. 26, no. 6, pp. 642–649, Feb. 2020. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612826666200203144034.
[9] BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, WORLD MINERAL PRODUCTION 2018-2022. Keyworth: British Geological Survey, 2024. [Online]. Available: www.geologyshop.com
[10] United States Geological Survey, “Mineral commodity summaries 2023,” Feb. 31, 2023, United State Geological Survey, Reston. https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2023.
[11] D. Borah, H. Nath, and H. Saikia, “Modification of bentonite clay & its applications: a review,” Sep. 01, 2022, De Gruyter Open Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1515/revic-2021-0030.
[12] C. Nomicisio et al., “Natural and Synthetic Clay Minerals in the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Fields,” May 01, 2023, MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051368.
[13] J. A. Alkrad, R. Abu Shmeis, I. Alshwabkeh, H. Abazid, and M. A. Mohammad, “Investigation of the potential application of sodium bentonite as an excipient in formulation of sustained release tablets,” Asian J Pharm Sci, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 259–265, May 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajps.2017.01.004.
[14] N. Babahoum and M. Ould Hamou, “Characterization and purification of Algerian natural bentonite for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications,” BMC Chem, vol. 15, no. 1, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13065-021-00776-9.
[15] S. Modabberi, A. Namayandeh, A. López-Galindo, C. Viseras, M. Setti, and M. Ranjbaran, “Characterization of Iranian bentonites to be used as pharmaceutical materials,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 116–117, pp. 193–201, Nov. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.03.013.
[16] G. Di Prima et al., “Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Waste Bentonite to Produce Functional Antioxidant Excipients for Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Purposes: A Waste-to-Market Approach,” Antioxidants, vol. 11, no. 12, Dec. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11122493.
[17] M. Ruggeri et al., “Bentonite- and Palygorskite-Based Gels for Topical Drug Delivery Applications,” Pharmaceutics, vol. 15, no. 4, Apr. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041253.
[18] B. Subash, R. Sasikala, K. Jayamoorthy, and P. Magesan, “Heterojunction of Bentonite Clay supported Bi2O3/ZnO composite for the detoxification of azo dyes under UV-A light illumination,” Chemical Physics Impact, vol. 6, Jun. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chphi.2022.100152.
[19] S. ul Haque, A. Nasar, and Inamuddin, “Montmorillonite clay nanocomposites for drug delivery,” in Applications of Nanocomposite Materials in Drug Delivery, Elsevier, 2018, pp. 633–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813741-3.00028-5.
[20] M. Ge, J. Li, S. Song, N. Meng, and N. Zhou, “Development and antibacterial performance of silver nanoparticles-lecithin modified montmorillonite nanoparticle hybrid,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 183, Dec. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2019.105334.
[21] S. K. Behera et al., “Antibacterial Efficacy of ZnO/Bentonite (Clay) Nanocomposites against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli,” ACS Omega, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 2783–2794, Jan. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c07950.
[22] R. Turgut, M. Kartal, E. K. Akkol, İ. Demirbolat, and H. Taştan, “Development of Cholesterol-Lowering and Detox Formulations Using Bentonite and Herbal Ingredients,” Front Pharmacol, vol. 12, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.775789.
[23] M. Saeed, K. Farooq, M. Nafees, M. Arshad, M. S. Akhter, and A. Waseem, “Green and Eco-Friendly Removal of Mycotoxins with Organo-Bentonites; Isothermal, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies,” Clean (Weinh), vol. 48, no. 9, Sep. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201900427.
[24] P. Mirhoseini Moosavi et al., “Efficacy of orally administered montmorillonite for acute iron poisoning detoxification in rat,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 103, pp. 62–66, Jan. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.11.010.
[25] A. C. Mgbeahuruike, T. E. Ejioffor, O. C. Christian, V. C. Shoyinka, M. Karlsson, and E. Nordkvist, “Detoxification of Aflatoxin-Contaminated Poultry Feeds by 3 Adsorbents, Bentonite, Activated Charcoal, and Fuller’s Earth,” Journal of Applied Poultry Research, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 461–471, Dec. 2018. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfy054.
[26] M. Wang, S. E. Hearon, and T. D. Phillips, “A high-capacity bentonite clay for the sorption of aflatoxins,” Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 332–341, Feb. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2019.1662493.
[27] K. M. Mahrose et al., “Role of clay in detoxification of aflatoxin B1 in growing Japanese quail with reference to gender,” Vet Res Commun, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 363–371, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-021-09817-z.
[28] P. García-Guzmán, L. Medina-Torres, M. J. Bernad-Bernad, F. Calderas, and O. Manero, “Study of the cholesterol adsorption and characterization of montmorillonite and bentonite clay.” [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/./j.mtcomm.
[29] P. Xu et al., “Preventive obesity agent montmorillonite adsorbs dietary lipids and enhances lipid excretion from the digestive tract,” Sci Rep, vol. 6, Feb. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19659.
[30] J. Y. Lee, H. N. Suh, K. Y. Choi, C. W. Song, and J. H. Hwang, “Regenerative and anti-inflammatory effect of a novel bentonite complex on burn wounds,” Vet Med Sci, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 2422–2433, Nov. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.908.
[31] J. Cervini-Silva, Antonio-Nieto-Camacho, S. Kaufhold, K. Ufer, and E. R. de Jesús, “The anti-inflammatory activity of bentonites,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 118, pp. 56–60, Dec. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.08.039.
[32] G. J. Kim et al., “Effect of nano-montmorillonite on osteoblast differentiation, mineral density, and osteoclast differentiation in bone formation,” Nanomaterials, vol. 10, no. 2, Feb. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10020230.
[33] A. Singh, S. Kumar, C. Goswami, and L. Goswami, “Montmorillonite-reinforced xanthan gum-based biomaterial enhances biomineralization suitable for bone tissue engineering,” Mater Today Chem, vol. 38, Jun. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtchem.2024.102067.
[34] M. Wu et al., “Nanoclay mineral-reinforced macroporous nanocomposite scaffolds for in situ bone regeneration: In vitro and in vivo studies,” Mater Des, vol. 205, Jul. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109734.
[35] A. G. Sabzevari, H. Sabahi, M. Nikbakht, M. Azizi, H. Dianat-Moghadam, and Z. Amoozgar, “Exploring the Potential of Montmorillonite as an Antiproliferative Nanoagent against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells,” Cells, vol. 13, no. 2, Jan. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020200.
[36] S. N. Abduljauwad, H. ur R. Ahmed, and V. T. Moy, “Melanoma treatment via non-specific adhesion of cancer cells using charged nano-clays in pre-clinical studies,” Sci Rep, vol. 11, no. 1, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82441-8.
[37] S. H. Hristova and A. M. Zhivkov, “Montmorillonite colloid plates with adsorbed cytochrome c: in vitro cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cell culture,” Cancer Nanotechnol, vol. 12, no. 1, Dec. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-021-00095-7.
[38] J. Zhang et al., “Montmorillonite/Agarose Three-Dimensional Network Gel Sponge for Wound Healing with Hemostatic and Durable Antibacterial Properties,” ACS Appl Nano Mater, vol. 6, no. 18, pp. 17263–17275, Sep. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.3c03708.
[39] G. Li et al., “Graphene-Montmorillonite Composite Sponge for Safe and Effective Hemostasis,” ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, vol. 8, no. 51, pp. 35071–35080, Dec. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b13302.
[40] F. Armijo et al., “Thermal behaviour of clays and clay-water mixtures for pelotherapy,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 126, pp. 50–56, Jun. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.02.020.
[41] M. V. Fernández-González, M. I. Carretero, J. M. Martín-García, A. Molinero-García, and R. Delgado, “Peloids prepared with three mineral-medicinal waters from spas in Granada. Their suitability for use in pelotherapy,” Appl Clay Sci, vol. 202, Mar. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2020.105969.
[42] M. Ç. Karakaya, N. Karakaya, and H. C. Vural, “Thermal Properties of Some Turkish Peloids and Clay Minerals for Their Use in Pelotherapy,” Geomaterials, vol. 06, no. 04, pp. 79–90, 2016. https://doi.org/10.4236/gm.2016.64007.
[43] M. Wang and T. D. Phillips, “Green-Engineered Barrier Creams with Montmorillonite-Chlorophyll Clays as Adsorbents for Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene,” Separations, vol. 10, no. 4, Apr. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10040237.
[44] M. Wang, K. J. Rivenbark, and T. D. Phillips, “Adsorption and detoxification of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid by montmorillonite clays,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 30, no. 5, pp. 11417–11430, Jan. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22927-8.
[45] R. R. de A. Duarte, T. P. Galdino, A. M. Rodrigues, M. V. L. Fook, G. de A. Neves, and S. M. de L. Silva, “Photoprotective Cosmetic Emulsions Based on Brazilian Smectite Clays,” Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 15, no. 19, Oct. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914563.
[46] J. Amaya, L. Bobadilla, L. Azancot, M. Centeno, S. Moreno, and R. Molina, “Potentialization of bentonite properties as support in acid catalysts,” Mater Res Bull, vol. 123, Mar. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2019.110728.
[47] V. A. Cardozo, R. Sánchez-Obregón, H. Salgado-Zamora, and R. Jiménez-Juárez, “Bentonite clay: An efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazoles,” Monatsh Chem, vol. 146, no. 8, pp. 1335–1337, Aug. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00706-015-1423-x.
[48] A. M. Rabie, E. A. Mohammed, and N. A. Negm, “Feasibility of modified bentonite as acidic heterogeneous catalyst in low temperature catalytic cracking process of biofuel production from nonedible vegetable oils,” J Mol Liq, vol. 254, pp. 260–266, Mar. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2018.01.110.
[49] D. M. Barbieri et al., “Calcium bentonite and sodium bentonite as stabilizers for roads unbound,” Clean Eng Technol, vol. 6, Feb. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100372.
[50] J. F. Harrington, K. A. Daniels, A. C. Wiseall, and P. Sellin, “Bentonite homogenisation during the closure of void spaces,” International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 136, Dec. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104535.
[51] R. Datta et al., “Bentonite-based organic amendment enriches microbial activity in agricultural soils,” Land (Basel), vol. 9, no. 8, Aug. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/LAND9080258.
[52] J. Mi, E. G. Gregorich, S. Xu, N. B. McLaughlin, and J. Liu, “Effect of bentonite as a soil amendment on field water-holding capacity, and millet photosynthesis and grain quality,” Sci Rep, vol. 10, no. 1, Dec. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75350-9.
[53] National Library of Medicine, “Clinical Trials.” Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Accessed on: Sept. 2024.
