The preparation and characterization of bentonite nanoparticle from Bener Meriah, Indonesia

The isolation and the content determinations of bentonites obtained from Bener Meriah, Aceh, Indonesia has been carried out. The process involved dissolving bentonites in water, ultrasonication and gravitational sedimentation process. Bentonites were milled with a planetary high energy ball-mill to obtain nanoparticles of montmorillonite with the milling times varied at 20 and 30 hours. Ultrasonication and sedimentation process increased the montmorillonite content from 1.53 % to 5.22 %. The diverse milling times of 20 and 30 hours respectively produced montmorillonite with average sizeof 388 nm and 186nm. (paper)