Bentonite slurry

There is provided an alkaline earth phyllosilicate material-containing slurry. It has been found the slurries of the present invention may be made at concentrations of up to 75% solids and remain pumpable. Broadly speaking, the slurry includes an alkaline earth phyllosilicate material and a polyfunctional compound and the remainder being water. The alkaline earth phyllosilicate material-containing slurry is preferably a pre-activated bentonite which is essentially semi-swollen upon addition to the slurry, and the polyfunctional compound is preferably an essentially non-monomeric, tall-oil derivative or distillate and the remainder being water. Other polyfunctional compounds include lignin, pitch, and liginosulfonate. The slurry does not requiring the addition of electrolyte. The properties of the slurry are such that the slurry contains between 5% and 75% total solid material in a pumpable form. There is also provided processes for making paper and for dewatering sludge using the slurry of this invention.