At a glance
Bentonite transport calls for a silo trailer with humidity monitoring and capacity matched to the bulk density of the specific fraction. PHS Magnum Chorula handles regular bentonite deliveries for the foundry, drilling and sorbent industries. ISO 9001:2015, a transloading hall with humidity control, 31 silo trailers, deliveries across Poland and the EU.
Bentonite characteristics
Bentonite is a sorbent clay with a montmorillonite structure, known for swelling on contact with water. Natural commercial moisture is typically 8–12%, bulk density 0.8–1.1 t/m³. It comes in two main forms:
- Powdered bentonite (Na-bentonite, fractions <0.2 mm) — sorbent grades for purification and coatings
- Granulated bentonite (2–4 mm granules) — feed, cat litter, foundry moulds
Each form has its own transport requirements:
| Parameter | Powdered | Granulated |
|---|---|---|
| Working moisture | 8–12% | 10–14% |
| Bulk density | 0.85–1.0 t/m³ | 0.75–0.9 t/m³ |
| Pneumatic discharge | Yes (standard) | Possible, but slower |
| Dusting risk | High (tightness critical) | Low |
| Typical customer | Coating, feed and sorbent producers | Foundries, feed, cat litter |
How we handle bentonite transport
1. Raw material intake
Bentonite arrives in 500–1200 kg big-bags (FIBC), sometimes loose from a domestic producer. Imports from Greece, Turkey or the USA typically come in 20’/40’ containers loaded with big-bags.
2. Transloading under humidity control
The PHS Magnum transloading hall has indoor humidity monitoring (typically <60%) — bentonite must not absorb airborne moisture during transloading, as this affects the customer’s quality specification. A screening sieve removes any foreign bodies.
3. Loading the silo trailer
After washing and drying (with documentation of cleanliness and internal humidity), the silo trailer is loaded by gravity. With powdered bentonite we typically use 22–25 t of capacity.
4. Transport to the customer
Deliveries from Chorula across all of Poland and the European Union — most frequently Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia, among other EU destinations. Pneumatic discharge at the receiving site (from the on-board blower or the customer’s receiving installation).
Our experience with bentonite
PHS Magnum handles regular bentonite deliveries for:
- Raw material traders — wholesale volumes for distribution
- Foundries — bentonite as a binder for sand moulds
- Paint and coating producers — bentonite as a rheology modifier
- Sorbent manufacturers — granules for pet litter, water treatment and environmental applications
Real-world contracts: volumes from 200 to 500 tonnes per month, regular deliveries, often under 12–24-month framework agreements. A trial transloading run at the start of the first contract lets us verify how the specific batch behaves (caking, dusting, fluidisation) in our infrastructure.
What determines how a specific batch is handled
Every bentonite batch behaves slightly differently — several material properties drive trailer selection and discharge parameters:
- Grain size — powdered grades discharge pneumatically as standard; granulated grades may need a longer cycle and gentler fluidisation.
- Working moisture — higher moisture increases the tendency to cake and demands strict trailer tightness control.
- Bulk density — at 0.8–1.1 t/m³, full payload is reached at 22–25 t, so mass, not tank volume, sets the limit.
- Dusting tendency — powdery fractions are critical for the tightness of couplings and discharge fittings.
- Safety data sheet — for blends with additives we check the classification (ADR, MSDS) before the first delivery.
That is why we run a trial transloading at the start of every first contract — our fleet of 55–65 m³ silo trailers is maintained precisely for such specialist materials, with fittings and tightness looked after by our silo trailer service.
Contact
Transloading and transport dispatch: +48 664 135 005 · biuro@magnumchorula.pl Chorula near Opole — 4 km from the A4 Gogolin junction, ISO 9001:2015. Deliveries across Poland and the EU.
Related
- Talc transport — a related bulk mineral
- Big-bag transloading — the full transfer process from big-bag to silo trailer
- Silo washing station — trailer cleaning between batches
- Silo trailer service — fleet maintenance for specialist materials
- Bulk material transport — full scope
