Import Bentonite — Buy in Bulk from Supplier in India

Nilkanth Exports supplies bentonite clay extracted from mining operations across India, a country holding substantial deposits of both sodium and calcium bentonite variants in the Kutch region of Gujarat and neighboring states. This specific offering targets industrial-grade applications where the mineral's colloidal properties, swelling index, and rheological behavior determine suitability. The supplier's profile references 19 active mines, though buyers should independently verify current operational status and whether the stated mine count represents direct ownership, joint ventures, or contracted supply arrangements. Bentonite from Indian deposits typically exhibits montmorillonite content ranging from 60-85% depending on the specific formation and beneficiation process applied at the extraction site.

The swelling capacity of sodium bentonite, measured as the volume expansion in milliliters per 2 grams of clay in distilled water, typically ranges from 25-35 ml for standard foundry grades and can exceed 40 ml for premium drilling mud grades. Calcium bentonite shows lower swelling indices, generally 10-25 ml, but offers superior green compression strength in foundry applications. Nilkanth Exports indicates availability of both grades, though the listing lacks specific swelling index values, plate water absorption percentages, or methylene blue index figures that buyers in drilling or cat litter sectors typically require. The natural moisture content of raw bentonite at extraction typically ranges from 15-25%, with drying and milling processes reducing this to 8-12% for standard packaged product. Particle size distribution, specifically the percentage passing 200 mesh (75 micrometers), is a critical specification for drilling fluid applications, with typical requirements of 90% or greater.

Primary application sectors for this bentonite include oil and gas drilling operations where it functions as a viscosifier and filtration control agent in water-based mud systems, foundry industries as a binder for sand mold production, construction for diaphragm wall slurry and tunnel boring support fluids, agriculture as a soil conditioner and feed pellet binder, and consumer products including cat litter and cosmetics. Environmental remediation applications, particularly landfill liner systems and wastewater treatment, represent growing demand segments. Buyers should confirm with Nilkanth Exports the specific grade being quoted, as drilling-grade bentonite requires API 13A Section 9 compliance or OCMA DFCP-4 specification, while foundry grades are evaluated on green compression strength, wet tensile strength, and thermal durability indices rather than API rheological parameters. The supplier's claimed ISO and SGS certifications should be verified directly, including certificate numbers, scope of certification, and accreditation bodies.

Nilkanth Exports operates as an Indian exporter of bentonite clay, with its supplier tier marked as imported and trust tier classified as harbor. The company claims operations across 19 active mines, though no specific mine locations, lease details, or extraction capacity figures are provided in the available listing. The supplier profile contains no information about founding date, ownership structure, number of employees, annual production volume, or revenue. No specific factory or processing facility addresses are disclosed beyond the general country origin of India. The response rate is recorded at 0.00 with zero average response hours, indicating no historical inquiry data is available through this channel.

The listing describes Nilkanth Exports as offering flexible minimum order quantities and shipping terms including FOB and CIF, though exact MOQ thresholds, container load configurations, and port of loading are not specified. The claimed ISO and SGS certifications are presented without certificate numbers, dates, or accreditation body identification. Buyers should request direct verification of all certifications, including scope certificates confirming the specific products and processes covered. No client references, case studies, or third-party audit reports are mentioned. The supplier's operational model appears to focus on bulk mineral export rather than value-added processing, though this should be confirmed through direct technical inquiry regarding their milling, drying, and classification capabilities.