Attapulgite Clay for Jet Fuel Treatment & Clarification
Thermally activated attapulgite clay can be used as a treatment and filtration medium for jet fuel and other compatible petroleum-based products. Ultra-Clear provides multiple particle-size grades so the media can be matched to the treatment configuration, filtration equipment, contaminant profile and required clarification.
Ultra-Clear Is a Jet-Fuel Treatment Media - not Just Generic Clay
Ultra-Clear is an attapulgite-based purification and filtration medium historically positioned for jet-fuel clarification and other petroleum treatment applications. Its role combines the sorptive characteristics of activated attapulgite with a physical particle form suitable for industrial treatment and filtration systems.
Grade selection should begin with treatment method, target contaminant, particle size, filtration equipment, flow, pressure drop and required finished-fuel quality. Ultra-Clear grades such as 8/16, 16/30, 30/60 and 60/90 should not be treated as interchangeable simply because they use the same mineral family.
Where Attapulgite Fits in Jet Fuel Treatment
Clay treatment can provide both sorptive purification and filtration support depending on the system configuration. The physical form of the media determines how it can be retained, contacted with the fuel and separated after treatment.
Why Attapulgite Is Used in Petroleum Purification
Thermally activated attapulgite has sorptive characteristics that make it useful in compatible petroleum and organic-liquid purification processes, particularly where more-polar contaminants are present in a largely nonpolar liquid.
Selected Polar Compounds
Ultra-Clear has been positioned for removal of selected polar compounds from jet fuel and related petroleum products.
Suspended Material
The media can also support clarification by helping retain or separate suspended material according to the treatment and filtration system.
Process-Specific Contaminants
Actual removal performance depends on contaminant chemistry, fuel composition, grade, contact method and operating conditions.
Particle Size Changes How Ultra-Clear Fits the System
The same attapulgite chemistry can behave very differently when supplied as coarse versus fine granular media. Particle size affects retention, contact area, permeability, pressure drop and filtration configuration.
Fuel → Attapulgite Treatment → Contaminant Retention → Clarification
Ultra-Clear can provide adsorptive treatment and filtration support in compatible jet-fuel systems. The appropriate particle-size grade depends on how the media is retained, how the fuel contacts the clay, allowable pressure drop and the required clarification result.
Ultra-Clear Particle Sizes for Jet Fuel Treatment
Grade selection should be based on the treatment configuration and hydraulic requirements rather than assuming the finest particle size will always provide the best result.
| Ultra-Clear Grade | Relative Particle Size | Starting Process Fit | Important Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/16 | Coarse | Retained-bed or coarse-media treatment configurations | Bed retention, flow, contact time, pressure drop and vessel design |
| 16/30 | Coarse / intermediate | Retained-media or compatible granular treatment systems | Retention screens, bed hydraulics, contact and contaminant loading |
| 30/60 | Fine / intermediate | Contact treatment and filtration applications requiring smaller granular media | Contact area, downstream retention, filtration rate and cake behavior |
| 60/90 | Fine | Finer treatment and filtration configurations where media retention is properly controlled | Fine-particle retention, pressure drop, filtration and handling |
Mesh size is not a performance ranking.
Finer grades can increase available contact area, but they can also change pressure drop, retention requirements and downstream filtration behavior. The appropriate grade is the one that fits both the purification target and the physical treatment system.
Retained-Bed Treatment vs. Contact Treatment
Ultra-Clear particle size should align with how the clay is physically used in the process.
Granular Bed Treatment
Coarser attapulgite grades can be used where fuel passes through a contained bed of treatment media. The bed must provide sufficient contact while maintaining acceptable hydraulic performance.
Fine Media Treatment
Finer media can provide greater contact area in systems where the clay is introduced into or closely contacts the liquid and is subsequently retained or removed through filtration.
What Determines Jet-Fuel Clay Treatment Performance?
Media chemistry matters, but operating conditions determine how effectively the adsorbent can be used.
Contaminant Profile
Identify the specific fuel-quality or contamination concern before selecting an adsorbent grade.
Contact Time
Bed depth, flow and treatment configuration influence how long the fuel remains in effective contact with the clay.
Particle Size
Mesh range affects contact area, media retention, hydraulics and filtration requirements.
Pressure Drop
Finer or increasingly loaded media can increase resistance to flow, depending on the treatment configuration.
Media Loading
Adsorbent capacity and contaminant loading influence when a bed or media charge should be replaced.
Finished-Fuel Requirement
Treatment performance should be judged against measurable fuel-quality requirements rather than appearance alone.
Which Ultra-Clear Grade Should You Evaluate?
Start with the physical treatment configuration and then narrow the particle-size range.
Using a Deep or Retained Bed?
Begin with a coarser grade such as 8/16 or 16/30 where the media must remain physically retained while fuel passes through the bed.
Need More Contact Area?
A finer grade such as 30/60 or 60/90 may be worth evaluating where the treatment system can properly retain or filter the smaller particles.
Pressure Drop Is Too High?
Review media size, bed loading, flow rate, vessel geometry and contaminant buildup before simply increasing media quantity.
Replacing an Existing Clay?
Match the existing manufacturer, grade, particle size and treatment configuration before changing physical form.
Need Better Clarification?
Evaluate whether particle size, contact, loading or downstream filtration is limiting the current system.
Treating a Different Petroleum Product?
Confirm the liquid, contaminant and manufacturer-designated application before transferring assumptions from jet fuel directly to another petroleum stream.
Clay Treatment Is One Part of Fuel Quality Control
Attapulgite treatment should not be presented as a universal solution for every jet-fuel contaminant or quality problem. Fuel-treatment programs can involve multiple separation, filtration, adsorption and quality-control steps. Ultra-Clear should be selected and qualified against the specific contaminant and treatment requirement.
Evaluate the Grade in the Actual Treatment Configuration
When changing attapulgite grades, compare contaminant reduction, clarification, flow, pressure drop, media retention, cycle length and replacement frequency under representative conditions. A smaller particle size should not be assumed to improve overall system performance unless the equipment can accommodate it.
Ultra-Clear Attapulgite from Sorbents Direct
Ultra-Clear provides an established attapulgite treatment-media platform for compatible jet-fuel and petroleum purification applications.
Ultra-Clear® Attapulgite
Ultra-Clear is a thermally activated attapulgite purification and filtration medium with historical manufacturer positioning in jet-fuel clarification and treatment of other petroleum-based products.
Multiple mesh grades allow the media to be matched to retained-bed, contact-treatment and filtration configurations.
8/16, 16/30, 30/60 & 60/90
Coarse through fine particle-size options provide different balances of contact area, retention, permeability and hydraulic behavior.
Provide the current system and particle size when requesting a replacement or alternative grade.
Ultra-Clear for Industrial Jet Fuel Treatment Requirements
Sorbents Direct supports industrial users sourcing Ultra-Clear, comparing particle-size grades and replacing existing treatment media with current documentation and freight support.
Grade Comparison
Compare particle size and treatment configuration against the current media and operating system.
Technical Documents
Available SDS, technical data and manufacturer documentation can support technical and procurement review.
Production Quantities
Product-specific bags, pallets and larger commercial quantities can be quoted according to current availability.
Freight Support
Pallet and commercial freight can be priced around the actual grade, quantity and ship-to destination.
What to Include When Requesting Ultra-Clear Pricing
Basic treatment-system information helps identify the most relevant particle-size grade before quoting.
- Jet fuel or petroleum product being treated
- Current clay manufacturer and grade, if applicable
- Current particle size or mesh range
- Target contaminant or treatment objective
- Retained bed, contact treatment or other configuration
- Vessel or filtration equipment type
- Approximate flow rate
- Current pressure-drop concern, if applicable
- Current media charge or replacement quantity
- Required technical documentation
- Requested delivery timing
- Ship-to ZIP code or destination
Need Help Selecting an Ultra-Clear Particle Size?
Send us the fuel being treated, current clay and particle size if known, treatment configuration, contaminant concern, flow requirements, required quantity and ship-to location. Sorbents Direct can help narrow practical starting grades and provide current pricing, freight and manufacturer documentation.
Continue Your Petroleum & Purification Research
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Explore Bulk Supply →Jet Fuel Attapulgite Treatment FAQ
Why is attapulgite clay used in jet fuel treatment?
Is Ultra-Clear used for jet fuel?
What does Ultra-Clear remove from jet fuel?
What is the difference between Ultra-Clear 8/16, 16/30, 30/60 and 60/90?
Is finer Ultra-Clear always better?
Can Ultra-Clear be used in a fixed bed?
Can Ultra-Clear be used for petroleum products other than jet fuel?
How do I choose the correct Ultra-Clear mesh size?
How should I compare a replacement jet-fuel treatment clay?
Can Sorbents Direct supply Ultra-Clear in commercial quantities?
Match the Particle Size to the Treatment System
From coarse retained-bed media to finer contact-treatment grades, Sorbents Direct can help compare Ultra-Clear particle sizes using the fuel, contaminant, equipment and hydraulic requirements of the actual process.
