A sample of diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth (IPA: /ˌdʌɪətəˈmeɪʃəs ˈəː(r)θ/, also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron. Image File history File links Mineraly. ... Image File history File links Mineraly. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... The Needles,situated on the Isle Of Wight, are part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation. ... For other uses, see Rock (disambiguation). ... An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish (see metal polishing and wood finishing) a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away. ... // Specimen of highly porous pumice from Teide volcano on Tenerife, Canary Islands. ... Porosity is a measure of the void spaces in a material, and is measured as a fraction, between 0–1, or as a percentage between 0–100%. The term porosity is used in multiple fields including manufacturing, earth sciences and construction. ... The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2. ... For sodium in the diet, see Edible salt. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... General Name, symbol, number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ...

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator. Orders Centrales Pennales Diatoms (Greek: (dia) = through + (temnein) = to cut, i. ... A seaweed (Laurencia) up close: the branches are multicellular and only about 1 mm thick. ... In chemistry, alchemy and water treatment, filtration is the process of using a filter to mechanically separate a mixture. ... It has been suggested that ovicide be merged into this article or section. ... Absorption has a number of meanings: In physics, absorption is a process in which particles of some sort encounter another material and are taken up by or even disappear in it. ... A packet of clumping cat litter & a litter box Cat litter is one of any of a number of materials used in litter boxes to absorb moisture from cat feces and urine, which reduces foul odors such as ammonia and renders them more tolerable within human dwellings. ... Coagulation is the thickening or congealing of any liquid into solid clots. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ... Thermal insulation on the Huygens probe The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. ...

Applications

Industrial

Diatomaceous earth, when mixed with nitroglycerin, stabilizes it, and the result is known as Dynamite. Dynamite is much safer to transport and handle than nitroglycerin in its raw form. Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, and glyceryl trinitrate, is a chemical compound. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ...

In 1866, Alfred Nobel discovered that nitroglycerin could be made much more stable if absorbed in diatomite. He patented this mixture as dynamite in 1867, and the mixture is also referred to as guhr dynamite. 1866 (MDCCCLXVI) is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...   (October 21, 1833, Stockholm, Sweden—December 10, 1896, Sanremo, Italy) was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, armaments manufacturer and the inventor of dynamite. ... Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin, and glyceryl trinitrate, is a chemical compound. ... Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth (kieselguhr) as an adsorbent. ... Cunt BAg Twat Fuk suck my penis ring 0778851865!!!!!!Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Filtration

The most common use (68%)^{[citation needed]} of diatomaceous earth is as a filter medium, especially for swimming pools. It has a high porosity, because it is composed of microscopically-small, coffin-like, hollow particles. It is used in chemistry under the name Celite as a filtration aid, to filter very fine particles that would otherwise pass through or clog filter paper. It is also used to filter water, particularly in the drinking water treatment process, and other liquids, such as beer and wine. It can also filter syrups and sugar. Other industries such as paper, paints, ceramics, soap and detergents use it as a fulling material. In chemistry and common usage, a filter is a device (usually a membrane or layer) that is designed to block certain objects or substances while letting others through. ... 50 meter indoor swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, or wading pool is an artificially enclosed body of water intended for recreational or competitive swimming, or for other bathing activities that do not involve swimming, i. ... An open casket A coffin (in North American English, also known as a casket, although the design is different - coffins taper towards the feet while caskets remain the same width) is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains -- either for burial or cremation. ... For other uses, see Chemistry (disambiguation). ... Filter paper is a semi-permeable paper barrier placed perpendicular to a liquid flow and is used to separate fine solids from liquids. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Drinking water Mineral Water Drinking water is water that is intended to be ingested by humans. ... For other uses, see Beer (disambiguation). ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ...

Abrasive

The oldest use of diatomite is as a very mild abrasive and, for this purpose, it has been used both in toothpaste and in metal polishes, as well as in some facial scrubs. Modern toothpaste gel Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. ...

Pest control

Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical-grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation. This material has wide application in control of insects of grain storage. It has been suggested that ovicide be merged into this article or section. ... John Philip (1957) described sorptivity as a measure of the capacity of the medium to absorb or desorb liquid by capillarity. ... An exoskeleton is an external anatomical feature that supports and protects an animals body, in contrast to the internal endoskeleton of, for example, a human. ... An exoskeleton is an external anatomical feature that supports and protects an animals body, in contrast to the internal endoskeleton of, for example, a human. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Ficks laws of diffusion describe diffusion, and define the diffusion coefficient D. // Ficks laws of diffusion were derived by Adolf Fick in the year 1855. ... Subclass Subclass Eogastropoda     Patellogastropoda Subclass Orthogastropoda   Superorder Cocculiniformia   Superorder Hot Vent Taxa     Neomphaolida   Superorder Vetigastropoda   Superorder Neritaemorphi     Neritopsina   Superorder Caenogastropoda     Architaenioglossa     Sorbeoconcha   Superorder Heterobranchia     Heterostropha     Opisthobranchia     Pulmonata The gastropods, or univalves, are the largest and most successful class of mollusks, with 60,000-75,000 species, and second largest class... This article is about Terrestrial Slugs. ... Beekeeping, tacuinum sanitatis casanatensis (XIV century) Beekeeping (or apiculture, from Latin apis, a bee) is the practice of intentional maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. ... The Small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) is a bee-keeping pest. ... Boric acid, also called boracic acid or orthoboric acid or Acidum Boricum, is a mild acid often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium, and as a precursor of other chemical compounds. ... It has been suggested that Blattellidae be merged into this article or section. ...

Absorbent

Its absorbent qualities make it useful for spill clean-up and the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends it to clean up toxic liquid spills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ... Toxic redirects here, but this is also the name of a song by Britney Spears; see Toxic (song) Look up toxic and toxicity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

More recently, it has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from freshwater sources and does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.

Thermal

Its thermal properties enable it to be used as the barrier material in some fire resistant safes.

Hydroponics

Freshwater diatomite can be used as a growing medium in hydroponic gardens. Hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil. ...

It is also used as a growing medium in potted plants, particularly as bonsai soil. Bonsai enthusiasts use it as a soil additive or pot a bonsai tree in 100% Diatomaceous earth. Like perlite, vermiculite, and expanded clay, it retains water and nutrients while draining fast a freely allowing high oxygen circulation within the growing medium.

Geology

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Because diatomite forms from the remains of water-borne diatoms, it is found close to either current or former bodies of water. It is generally divided into two categories based upon source: freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater diatomite is mined from dry lakebeds and is characteristically low in crystalline silica content. Saltwater diatomite contains a high crystalline silica content, making it a useful material for filters, due to the sieve-like features of the crystals. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Orders Centrales Pennales Diatoms (Greek: (dia) = through + (temnein) = to cut, i. ... For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... Annual mean sea surface salinity for the World Ocean. ... For other uses, see Crystal (disambiguation). ...

Specific varieties

• TripoliteDakine is the variety found in Tripoli, Libya.
• Bann clay is the variety found in the Lower Bann valley in Northern Ireland.
• Moler (Mo-clay) is the variety found in northwestern Denmark, especially on the islands of Fur and Mors.

Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ... The River Bann is the largest river in Northern Ireland. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: ) is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Fur is a small Danish island in the Limfjord. ... Mors is a 367,7 square kilometer large island in a shallow sound called Limfjorden in Denmark. ...

Climatologic importance

The Earth's climate depends greatly on the amount of dust in the atmosphere, and hence, locating major sources of dust are of great interest for climatology. Recent research indicates that surface deposits of diatomaceous earth play a dominant resource here, a major example being the Bodélé depression in the part of the Sahara belonging to Chad, where storms push diatomite gravel over dunes, where dust is abraded, leading to the largest single influx of dust into the atmosphere.^[1] Look up dust in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... View of Jupiters active atmosphere, including the Great Red Spot. ... Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time,[1] and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences. ... Dust storm in the Bodele Depression. ... A diagram showing the formation of a dune with a slipface. ...

Safety considerations

The absorbent qualities of diatomite can result in a significant drying of the hands, if handled without gloves. The saltwater (industrial) form contains a highly crystalline form of silica, resulting in sharp edges. The sharpness of this version of the material makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when working with it. Look up dust in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Food-grade diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form. Silicosis (also known as Grinders disease) is a form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. ...

In the United States, the crystalline silica content in the dusts is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and there are guidelines for the maximum amounts allowable in the product and in the air near the breathing zone of workers.^[2]

See also

• Biomineralization
• Diatom
• Fuller's Earth
• Perlite

Biomineralisation (or biomineralization) is the process in which living organism produce minerals, often to harden or stiffen existing tissues in living organisms. ... Orders Centrales Pennales Diatoms (Greek: (dia) = through + (temnein) = to cut, i. ... Fullers earth is any nonplastic clay or claylike material that can be used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases. ... Expanded Perlite Perlite is an amorphous volcanic glass that has a relatively high water content. ...

References

1. ^ Washington et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 33 (2006) L09401 doi:10.1029/2006GL025827.
2. ^ Inert Dusts at Kansas State University

A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Kansas State University, officially called Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science [2] but commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States. ...

External links

• Diatomaceous Earth in India
• Diatomite: Statistics and Information - USGS
• Tripolite: Tripolite mineral data Citat: "...A diatomaceous earth consisting of opaline silica..."
• DIATOMACEOUS EARTH: A Non Toxic Pesticide
• The Lough Neagh & Lower Bann Advisory Committees: Diatomite Quote: "...Diatomite, or Bann clay as it is known locally..."
• Photograph of diatomite deposits along River Bann, Ireland
• Raising Poultry using Diatomacious Earth - Article by the Poultry Youth Association
• All Diatomaceous Earth is not the Same- Article by Wallace Tharp