About Attapulgite Pesticide Carrier Grade
Attapulgite pesticide carrier grade is a sorptive clay supplied as screened granules and fine powder for crop protection formulators. Granules carry liquid or melted active ingredients in granular insecticide, herbicide and fungicide products, while the powder serves as a diluent and grinding aid in wettable powders and dustable powders.
The internal channels and needle structure of attapulgite give it a high capacity for liquids. Actives sprayed onto tumbling granules are drawn into the particle rather than staying wet on the surface, so the finished product remains free-flowing and can be applied evenly through granule applicators. Heat-treated granules are hard and low in dust, helping keep fines out of the packing line and the field. In powder formulations, the clay absorbs liquid components and reduces caking during storage.
Clay carriers have active surface sites, and some active ingredients can degrade on contact with them. Compatibility should therefore be confirmed in accelerated storage trials, and certain actives need a deactivator such as a glycol added to the carrier first. Obsidian Minerals supplies granules in common mesh ranges and powders to agreed fineness, with batch CoA, Technical Data Sheet and MSDS/SDS. Finished formulations must be registered by the formulator, and customers should verify suitability for each active and market.
Typical specifications
| Parameter | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Particle size | Granules 16/30, 24/48 or 30/60 mesh; powder to agreed fineness | Sieve analysis, internal method |
| Free moisture (105 °C) | ≤ 8 % (granules) | Internal method |
| Loose bulk density | 0.55–0.70 g/cm³ (granules) | Internal method |
| Liquid sorption capacity | 25–40 % by mass, grade dependent | Internal method |
| pH (10 % slurry) | 7.0–9.5 | Internal method |
| Appearance | Cream to light tan granules or powder | Visual |
Typical values for guidance. Guaranteed limits are stated on the Technical Data Sheet and batch CoA. Sorption capacity depends on the liquid, its viscosity and the mesh size selected.
Key features & benefits
High liquid loading
Attapulgite granules absorb liquid actives and solvents into their internal pore structure, allowing meaningful loadings while the finished granule stays dry to the touch and free-flowing.
Hard, low-dust granules
Heat-treated granules resist attrition during impregnation, packing and long-distance transport, which reduces fines at the formulation plant and helps maintain even distribution through field applicators.
Choice of mesh range
Granules are screened to common carrier ranges such as 16/30, 24/48 and 30/60 mesh, letting formulators match particle size to application rate, equipment and product label requirements.
Grinding aid for powders
In wettable powders and dustable powders, the fine grade acts as a diluent and grinding aid, absorbing liquid components and helping the milled formulation resist caking in storage.
Applications
Granular insecticides and herbicides
Carrier for soil-applied and broadcast granular products, where liquid or melted actives are sprayed onto tumbling granules in a rotary blender and absorbed into the particle before cooling and packing.
Wettable and dustable powders
Used as an inert diluent and grinding aid that keeps powder formulations free-flowing and easy to disperse when the end user mixes them with water.
Combination granules
Used as a sorptive base for granules that combine crop protection actives with micronutrients or other inputs in a single application, subject to the formulator's registration and compatibility testing.
Usage & handling
- Spray the liquid or melted active onto granules tumbling in a rotary blender, keeping total liquid below the sorption capacity of the chosen grade.
- Where the active is sensitive to clay surfaces, pre-treat the carrier with a deactivator such as a glycol before adding the active.
- Run accelerated storage stability trials on every new active and carrier combination before scale-up.
- Store granules dry and handle gently to avoid generating fines; use dust extraction at transfer points.
Packaging & supply
- 25 kg or 50 kg HDPE or paper bags
- 1 MT or 1.2 MT FIBC jumbo bags for formulation plants
- Private-label packaging for agrochemical distributors on request
Frequently asked questions
Why is attapulgite used as a pesticide carrier?
Attapulgite absorbs a large amount of liquid into its internal structure while staying free-flowing, so it can carry liquid active ingredients in a dry granule. Heat-treated granules are hard and low in dust, and the material is available in a range of mesh sizes. It is also used in powder form as a diluent and grinding aid for wettable and dustable powders.
Which mesh sizes of attapulgite carrier granules are available?
We supply granules screened to common carrier ranges such as 16/30, 24/48 and 30/60 mesh, plus fine powder for powder formulations. Other ranges can be produced on request. Tell us your application rate, equipment and target bulk density, and we will recommend a size and send samples for impregnation trials.
Will the clay carrier affect the stability of my active ingredient?
It can. Clay surfaces contain active sites that may promote degradation of certain actives, particularly some organophosphates. Formulators usually confirm compatibility with accelerated storage trials and, where needed, pre-treat the carrier with a deactivator such as a glycol. Customers should verify suitability for each active, since registration and stability data remain the formulator's responsibility.
How much liquid can attapulgite pesticide granules absorb?
Typical liquid sorption capacity is around 25 to 40 % by mass, depending on mesh size, heat treatment and the viscosity of the liquid. For a robust product, the total liquid load is usually kept somewhat below the measured capacity so granules stay dry and free-flowing. Your sample batch can be tested with your own active solution.