In 2005, U.S. was the top producer of bentonite with almost one-third world share followed by China and Greece, reports the British Geological Survey.
The absorbent clay was given the name bentonite by Wilbur C. Knight in 1898 — after the Cretaceous Benton Shale near Rock River, Wyoming. Other modern discoveries include montmorillonite discovered in 1847 in Montmorillon in the Vienne prefecture of France, in Poitou-Charentes, South of the Loire Valley.

Reported in EPA TSCA Inventory.

Bentonite (CAS NO.1302-78-9), its Synonyms are Accugel F ; Akajo ; Albagel Premium USP 4444 ; Altonit SF ; Aquagel ; Aquagel Gold Seal ; Bentonite magma ; Bentonite, calcian-sodian ; Detercal G 2FC ; Detercol P 2 ; Panther creek bentonite ; Southern bentonite . It is gel, or solid if dry. Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, essentially impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are different types of bentonite, each named after the respective dominant element, such as potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and aluminium (Al).

Physical properties about Bentonite are: (1)ACD/LogP: 2.566; (2)# of Rule of 5 Violations: 1; (3)ACD/LogD (pH 5.5): 2.45; (4)ACD/LogD (pH 7.4): 2.56; (5)ACD/BCF (pH 5.5): 39.93; (6)ACD/BCF (pH 7.4): 52.28; (7)ACD/KOC (pH 5.5): 450.91; (8)ACD/KOC (pH 7.4): 590.36; (9)#H bond acceptors: 13; (10)#Freely Rotating Bonds: 12; (11)Index of Refraction: 1.503; (12)Molar Refractivity: 56.871 cm³; (13)Molar Volume: 192.253 cm³; (14)Polarizability: 22.545 10-24cm³; (15)Surface Tension: 58.2770004272461 dyne/cm; (16)Density: 1.478 g/cm³; (17)Flash Point: 184.73 °C; (18)Enthalpy of Vaporization: 63.017 kJ/mol; (19)Boiling Point: 381.839 °C at 760 mmHg

Uses of Bentonite: (1) Bentonite is a common component of drilling mud used to curtail drilling fluid invasion by its propensity for aiding in the formation of mud cake. Bentonite can be used in cement, adhesives, ceramic bodies, and cat litter. (2) Bentonite is also used as a binding agent in the manufacture of taconite pellets as used in the steelmaking industry. (3) Bentonite, in small percentages, is used as an ingredient in commercially designed clay bodies and ceramic glazes. (4) Bentonite clay is also used in pyrotechnics to make end plugs and rocket nozzles.Bentonite is therefore uniquely useful in the process of winemaking, where it is used to remove excessive amounts of protein from white wines. (5) Bentonite has been prescribed as a bulk laxative, and it is also used as a base for many dermatologic formulas. There are also many other medicinal uses for Bentonite and related clays. Clay has been used for healing from prehistoric times onwards. See Medicinal clay.

When you are using this chemical, please be cautious about it as the following:
1. Do not breathe dust;
2. Avoid contact with skin and eyes;

You can still convert the following datas into molecular structure:
(1)InChI=1S/2Al.O2Si.H2O.3O/c;;1-3-2;;;;/h;;;1H2;;;;
(2)InChIKey=SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N;
(3)SmilesO=[AlH]O[AlH]=O.[SiH2](=O)=O.O;

The toxicity data is as follows: