Description
Diatomite is a friable light-coloured sedimentary rock that is mainly composed of the siliceous skeletal remains of diatom which are single-celled aquatic algae. It is a very porous rock with a fine particle size and a low specific gravity. These properties make it useful as a filter media, an absorbent and as a lightweight filler for rubber, paint and plastics. When diatomite is crushed into a powder, it is usually called ‘diatomaceous earth' or D.E. The Greeks first used diatomite over 2,000 years ago in pottery and brick. There are many diatomite deposits throughout the world, but those of high-purity which are commercially viable are rare.
Uses
Diatomite has a wide variety of uses, and is a component in hundreds of products, or vital to the manufacturing process of thousands more. The four main uses of diatomite are filter media, cement additive, fillers and absorbents.
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