Activated clay drying

Activated clay, also known as acid-activated bentonite or bleaching clay, is a highly porous, adsorptive material widely used in industries such as oil refining, chemical processing, and environmental remediation for decolorization, purification, and catalysis. Common Drying Methods: Flash Dryer

Activated clay, also known as acid-activated bentonite or bleaching clay, is a highly porous, adsorptive material widely used in industries such as oil refining, chemical processing, and environmental remediation for decolorization, purification, and catalysis. The drying process is a crucial step in its production, ensuring the removal of moisture and volatile impurities to maximize its surface area, adsorption capacity, and thermal stability.

Importance of Drying
Raw activated clay typically contains 20–40% moisture after acid activation and washing. Excess moisture reduces its porosity, clogs adsorption sites, and promotes agglomeration, diminishing its effectiveness in applications like edible oil bleaching or wastewater treatment. Drying reduces moisture content to <10%, enhancing its granular or powder form, flowability, and shelf stability. Proper drying also prevents structural collapse or rehydration during storage.

Common Drying Methods

Flash Dryer :
High-Efficiency Drying Mechanism: XSG Series Spin Flash Dryer employs a tangential air inlet and a high-speed stirrer to create a powerful rotating wind field. This ensures efficient heat transfer and uniform drying of paste, cake, and slurry materials.
Advanced Material Processing: The equipment processes raw materials through a combination of cutting, shearing, blowing, floating, and rotating actions, transforming them into granulated form. This enhances material separation and strengthens the heating exchange process.

Key Parameters

Temperature Control: Excessive heat (>350°C) risks sintering or dehydroxylation, which alters clay’s crystalline structure and reduces adsorption capacity.

Residence Time: Prolonged drying can over-dehydrate the clay, while insufficient time leaves residual moisture. Optimization balances efficiency and product quality.

Particle Size Management: Post-drying milling or sieving ensures consistent particle size distribution for target applications (e.g., coarse granules for oil refining vs. fine powders for catalysis).

Storage Considerations
Dried activated clay must be stored in moisture-proof, airtight containers to prevent reabsorption of water vapor, which can reactivate residual acidity or reduce porosity. Storage areas should be cool, dry, and free from contaminants.