scientist with beakers
Attapulgite, bentonite, and calcium montmorillonate are some examples of alternatives used for full earth. A mixture of aluminum, iron, magnesium, and silica, fuller’s earth is commonly used by various industries for its absorbent properties that can filter or remove fats and oils. Many cultures throughout history have used this clay for medicinal purposes related to its absorbent and possible antimicrobial properties. Some industries use full earth as a generic term to refer to any number of mineral clays.
Fuel, grease and oil manufacturers often use more complete ground filtration systems that remove contaminants and water from products. Attapulgite clay is also a fine-grained, earthy substance with absorbent properties. Industries often refine fuels and lubricants by passing them through attapulgite-containing filters or by pouring the substances onto an attapulgite substrate. Toiletries industries use filler earth as an ingredient in cosmetic products due to the substance’s oil-absorbing properties.
Bentonite not only absorbs water and oils, but also acts as a thickening agent in a variety of products, including adhesives, cosmetics, and foods. Contractors can use sodium bentonite as a moisture barrier when building trenches or ponds. As the substance absorbs water, it swells to such proportions that it thickens and forms a plastic-like surface. Bentonite is also a common ingredient in clay-based cat litters.
Since prehistoric times, fuller’s earth has been used as a topical wound dressing or mineral supplement. The researchers found that bentonite and montmorillonate clays demonstrate antibacterial and antifungal properties against a number of microbial species, including some resistant forms of bacteria. Used as topical dressings or in the form of mud baths, the clays act as a barrier against invading microbes, eliminating existing infections. Scientists have also developed a topical dressing made of gauze and kaolin clay that activates clotting mechanisms, minimizing life-threatening blood loss in combat situations.
Pregnant women in early cultures took fuller’s earth internally as a vitamin and mineral supplement. Analysis reveals that calcium bentonite and calcium montmorillonate contain calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Clays also often contain iron in amounts ranging from 1% to 10%. Fuller’s earth has been used to treat stomach problems and diarrhea, and modern over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications often include attapulgite clay. Internally ingested clay can lead to severe constipation.
Companies in the film industry often use filler earth, or alternatively pyrolite, for dramatic effects. The substance can be used to create a dirt road on a paved surface, scattered dust in speeding car scenes, or the massive amount of dirt seen during explosions. Film crews often contaminate entire rooms with the stuff needed to reproduce decades or centuries of neglect.