Purified attapulgite clay

A wet method for separating and dispersing Attapulgite clay comprising the steps of:

• crushing naturally occurring clay,
• adding a dispersant to water,
• preparing a slurry of the naturally occurring clay with the aqueous dispersant wherein the clay is dispersed in the water,
• separating non-Attapulgite materials from the aqueous slurry of Attapulgite clay,
• drying the dispersed Attapulgite clay,
• adding the dry Attapulgite clay to water,
• and redispersing the clay in the water using a low shear mixer without the addition of further dispersant or a surfactant forming a dispersion containing up to approximately 35% by weight of Attapulgite clay.

A purified attapulgite clay comprising:

• a dispersant adsorbed to the surface of the clay,
• elongated rods substantially free of grit and non-Attapulgite clay,
• dried at atmospheric pressure in turbulent air at a temperature of 85° C.-210° C. avoiding stabilizers and grinding,
• and the attapulgite clay having a free-moisture content of approximately 0.1%-9%.