Sino-Us Symposium of Attapulgite Clay Research and Development was held on June 23, 2011, in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province.

Dr. Haydn H. Murray, member of the United States National Academy of Engineering and Dr. ZHOU Huitang, president of Maytag Corporation, delivered reports respectively at the invitation of Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), one of the co-organizers.

During the Symposium, Dr. Murray gave a comprehensive introduction of the research, application and future development trend of attapulgite clay in America. Dr. ZHOU Huitang introduced the development of attapulgite clay companies in America. Prof. ZHENG Maosong, vice director of the Xuyi Science and Technology Bureau and part-time professor of the LICP introduced the status quo of attapulgite clay industry in Xuyi. Prof. WANG Aiqin, director of the Center for Eco-material and Green Chemistry of the LICP introduced the research on attapulgite clay in China and key technologies recently developed.

Since 2001, LICP has started the research on attapulgite clay, including the study of attapulgite clay based organic/inorganic composite water-retaining agents, absorbents with three-dimensional cross-linked network and highly sticky mineral gel. The industrialization of composite water-retaining agent technology has been achieved in Shandong Shengli Oilfield. In order to enhance cooperation, in 2008 Attapulgite R&D Joint Laboratory was co-founded by LICP and Jiangsu Jiuchuan Nano-material Technology Corporation Limited. In 2010, R&D Center of Attapulgite Clay Application was established jointly by LICP and Xuyi government.

During the Symposium, Dr. Murray and ZHOU Huitang also visited LICP’s Xuyi R&D Center of Attapulgite Clay Application.

Officials from the local government, experts from LICP, Ningbo Institute of Material Technology & Engineering of the CAS, Changzhou University and Huaiyin Institute of Technology and entrepreneurs from Xuyi also attended the Symposium.