Fuller's earth is any clay material that has the capability to decolorize oil or other liquids without chemical treatment. Fuller's earth typically consists of palygorskite (attapulgite) or bentonite. Modern uses of fuller's earth include absorbents for oil, grease, and animal waste (cat litter) and as a carrier for pesticides and fertilizers. Minor uses include filtering, clarifying, and decolorizing; active and inactive ingredient in beauty products; and as a filler in paint, plaster, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. It also has a number of uses in the film industry and on stage.
Fuller's earth is used to decolourise, deodorise, dehydrate and neutralise various minerals, vegetable, animal oils, etc. It is also used in the manufacture of No Carbon Required (NCR) papers.
Andhra Pradesh was leading producer accounted for 74% of the total value of production of fuller's earth followed by Rajasthan with 16% and the remaining 10% was shared by Madhya Pradesh (5%), Karnataka (4%) & Jammu & Kashmir (1%).