RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Bentonite clays are used in the creation of thousands of products. AMCOL is engaged in many of these markets, from cat litter to car parts, wine clarification to waste water treatment. AMCOL's involvement in a variety of markets provides an excellent resource base, creating an environment where cross functional innovation flourishes. AMCOL currently holds bentonite claims worldwide with many of our products utilizing U.S. western bentonite, one of the best deposits of sodium bentonite in the world. AMCOL's employees are its most valuable research asset. With a wide variety of backgrounds, experience and expertise are close at hand.

AMCOL's technical center houses a myriad of comprehensive testing equipment. Nearly every aspect of bentonite characterization can be analyzed by our scientists using:

• ICP to measure amounts of cations, including metals, in water
• Atomic Absorption to measure cationic exchange in bentonite samples
• Permeameters to measure hydraulic conductivity of our Geosynthetic clay liners
• X-ray diffraction and fluorescence to characterize the minerals and elements found in bentonites
• Thermal gravimetric analyzer and DSC to analyze polymers and organic portions of clay formulas
• Tensile testing equipment
• Rheologic property measuring equipment

CETCO’s Remediation Technologies Group is committed to new product innovation in addition to continuous evaluation and improvement of existing products. Of the recently introduced products, OrganoclayTM MRM is an example of a unique addition to the CETCO Organoclay^® product family. Specifically designed for Mercury and Arsenic removal, it can be used in capping applications to provide a permeable barrier in situations where either of these two metals are present in the contaminants.

Another innovative product recently produced by CETCO is the Bentomax® 200R. This new reinforced geosynthetic clay liner consists of a layer of Volclay® sodium bentonite encapsulated between two geotextiles, needlepunched together to insure higher shear strength, peel strength, and durability compared to non-reinforced GCLs. This integrated matrix of bentonite and needlepunched fibers offers the strength and durability of a reinforced GCL, but remains applicable in highly economically competitive areas.

CETCO’s Remediation Technologies Group can provide the products and expertise for many different remediation projects, including sediment capping, solids dewatering, remedial barriers, solidification, and stabilization. Our R&D department continually improves existing products and shapes the future with new innovative products.