nightflight - 17-3-2007 at 06:01
Hi
could cat-litter, resp. betonite/montmorilonite clay substitute diatomaceous earth?
thanks,
nightflight
not_important - 17-3-2007 at 06:16
No, not for most purposes if it involves water. Perhaps if it only involves dry organic liquids.
Diatomaceous earth is mostly silica, absorbent to some degree but it doesn't stick to itself or swell. Clays are much more absorbent, in water they
tend to swell and turn into a stick lump of, well, clay or even a gel.
Cat litter often has other stuff besides the clay, before it gets used - eh, that could cause problems in some applications.
Diatomaceous earth is often available at pool/spa supply stores.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentonite
Sauron - 17-3-2007 at 19:38
It's bentonite not "betonite"
Bentonite is used extensiely in winemaking as a clarifying agent and in the pharm industry.
No, you can't substitute it for diatomaceous earth but I am not sure why you'd want or need to anyway. I buy diatomaceous earth (Celatom) by the 20 lb
sack. I believe it mostly comes from Wyoming and it is not expensive.
transformer - 18-3-2007 at 04:13
When i dont have access to celite i sometime use talc
nightflight - 18-3-2007 at 07:07
thanks to all,
yeah, bentonite, I was thinking of betonite, cause it forms a hard chunk when being compressed (beton = german for concrete 
)
I remeber it being advertised in a pet-shop, to keep away ticks .
Levi - 18-3-2007 at 08:21
In what manner of use are you inquiring about the substitution? If you're wondering whether or not it may be substituted for use in dynamite, I
believe all that is required is an absorbent, inert substance to soak up the NG. Of course one should consult one of the more knowledgeable members
before attempting it.
Sauron - 18-3-2007 at 08:54
The normal use for celite (diatomaceous earth, kieselguhr, Celatom) in lab is as a filtering aid.
You do not use bentonite for that because bentonite swells up trememdously when wetted. That is why it is used as an insecticide: bugs eat it, it
wells up and kills them from inside.
It is used as a fining agent in winemaking and a clarifying agent in pharmaceutical manufacturing.