Document:

Exhibit 10.21
                                      No. 2

                           SPECIAL RETENTION AGREEMENT

     This  Agreement  is entered  into this 18th day of  September,  2000 by and
between AMCOL  International  Corporation  ("Company") and Frank B. Wright,  Jr.
("Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential and in the best interest of the
Company  and  its  Shareholders  to  foster  the  continued  employment  of  key
management personnel;

     WHEREAS, Frank B. Wright, Jr. is presently employed as President of Volclay
International, Inc.

     IT IS THEREFORE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  The  Company  will  pay to  Employee  the  amount  of  $250,000.00,  as
consideration  for  the  Employee  remaining  employed  by  the  Company  or its
subsidiaries and continuing his or her duties until the completion of *.

     2. No payment is due in the event the Employee  shall  terminate his or her
employment,  directly or indirectly, prior to a change in control or such change
in  control  does not occur  within one year from the date  hereof.  A change in
control  is  defined  as: the  change in the legal or  beneficial  ownership  of
fifty-one  percent  (51%) of the shares of the  Company's  common stock within a
six-month  period other than by death or operation of law, or the sale of ninety
percent  (90%) or more of the  Company's  aggregate  assets  within a  six-month
period.  Sale of the Company's  stock in a subsidiary or a  subsidiary's  assets
shall not be considered a Change in Control.

     3. The Company may terminate  Employee at any time,  with or without cause,
although  termination  without  cause by the  Company  within one (1) month of a
change in control shall be considered a termination upon a change in control.

*    An asterisk  represents certain material which has been omitted pursuant to
     a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission.  Such omitted  material has been filed separately with the SEC.
<PAGE>
     4. The  Employee  shall also be  considered  an  employee of the Company if
employed by a subsidiary.

     5. Any  payments  received  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall be credited
against any payments due under any Change in Control Agreement, the Employee has
with the Company.

     6. The payment  pursuant to this Agreement shall be made upon completion of
*.

     7. This Agreement shall expire one (1) year from the date hereof.

                                            AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                            By:       /s/ Larry Washow
                                            Title:    President

                                            EMPLOYEE:

                                             /s/ Frank B. Wright, Jr.
                                            Frank B. Wright, Jr.Exhibit 10.22
                                      No. 2

                           SPECIAL RETENTION AGREEMENT

     This  Agreement  is entered  into this 18th day of  September,  2000 by and
between  AMCOL  International  Corporation  ("Company")  and Ryan F.  McKendrick
("Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential and in the best interest of the
Company  and  its  Shareholders  to  foster  the  continued  employment  of  key
management personnel;

     WHEREAS,  Ryan F. McKendrick is presently  employed as President of Colloid
Environmental Technologies Company.

     IT IS THEREFORE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  The  Company  will  pay to  Employee  the  amount  of  $230,000.00,  as
consideration  for  the  Employee  remaining  employed  by  the  Company  or its
subsidiaries and continuing his or her duties until the completion of *.

     2. No payment is due in the event the Employee  shall  terminate his or her
employment,  directly or indirectly, prior to a change in control or such change
in  control  does not occur  within one year from the date  hereof.  A change in
control  is  defined  as: the  change in the legal or  beneficial  ownership  of
fifty-one  percent  (51%) of the shares of the  Company's  common stock within a
six-month  period other than by death or operation of law, or the sale of ninety
percent  (90%) or more of the  Company's  aggregate  assets  within a  six-month
period.  Sale of the Company's  stock in a subsidiary or a  subsidiary's  assets
shall not be considered a Change in Control.

     3. The Company may terminate  Employee at any time,  with or without cause,
although  termination  without  cause by the  Company  within one (1) month of a
change in control shall be considered a termination upon a change in control.

*    An asterisk  represents certain material which has been omitted pursuant to
     a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission. Such omitted material has been filed separately with the SEC.
<PAGE>
     4. The  Employee  shall also be  considered  an  employee of the Company if
employed by a subsidiary.

     5. Any  payments  received  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall be credited
against any payments due under any Change in Control Agreement, the Employee has
with the Company.

     6. The payment  pursuant to this Agreement shall be made upon completion of
*.

     7. This Agreement shall expire one (1) year from the date hereof.

                                            AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                            By:       /s/ Larry Washow
                                            Title:   President

                                            EMPLOYEE:

                                             /s/ Ryan F. McKendrick
                                            Ryan F. McKendrickExhibit 10.23
                                      No. 2

                           SPECIAL RETENTION AGREEMENT

     This  Agreement  is entered  into this 18th day of  September,  2000 by and
between  AMCOL   International   Corporation   ("Company")   and  Gary  Morrison
("Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential and in the best interest of the
Company  and  its  Shareholders  to  foster  the  continued  employment  of  key
management personnel;

     WHEREAS,  Gary  Morrison is  presently  employed as  President  of American
Colloid Company.

     IT IS THEREFORE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  The  Company  will  pay to  Employee  the  amount  of  $250,000.00,  as
consideration  for  the  Employee  remaining  employed  by  the  Company  or its
subsidiaries and continuing his or her duties until the completion of *.

     2. No payment is due in the event the Employee  shall  terminate his or her
employment,  directly or indirectly, prior to a change in control or such change
in  control  does not occur  within one year from the date  hereof.  A change in
control  is  defined  as: the  change in the legal or  beneficial  ownership  of
fifty-one  percent  (51%) of the shares of the  Company's  common stock within a
six-month  period other than by death or operation of law, or the sale of ninety
percent  (90%) or more of the  Company's  aggregate  assets  within a  six-month
period.  Sale of the Company's  stock in a subsidiary or a  subsidiary's  assets
shall not be considered a Change in Control.

     3. The Company may terminate  Employee at any time,  with or without cause,
although  termination  without  cause by the  Company  within one (1) month of a
change in control shall be considered a termination upon a change in control.

*    An asterisk  represents certain material which has been omitted pursuant to
     a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission. Such omitted material has been filed separately with the SEC.
<PAGE>
     4. The  Employee  shall also be  considered  an  employee of the Company if
employed by a subsidiary.

     5. Any  payments  received  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall be credited
against any payments due under any Change in Control Agreement, the Employee has
with the Company.

     6. The payment  pursuant to this Agreement shall be made upon completion of
*.

     7. This Agreement shall expire one (1) year from the date hereof.

                                            AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                            By:       /s/ Larry Washow
                                            Title:    President

                                            EMPLOYEE:

                                             /s/ Gary D. Morrison
                                            Gary MorrisonExhibit 10.24

                                      No. 2

                           SPECIAL RETENTION AGREEMENT

     This  Agreement  is entered  into this 18th day of  September,  2000 by and
between  AMCOL   International   Corporation   ("Company")  and  Peter  L.  Maul
("Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential and in the best interest of the
Company  and  its  Shareholders  to  foster  the  continued  employment  of  key
management personnel;

     WHEREAS, Peter L. Maul is presently employed as President of Nanocor, Inc.

     IT IS THEREFORE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  The  Company  will  pay to  Employee  the  amount  of  $250,000.00,  as
consideration  for  the  Employee  remaining  employed  by  the  Company  or its
subsidiaries and continuing his or her duties until the completion of *.

     2. No payment is due in the event the Employee  shall  terminate his or her
employment,  directly or indirectly, prior to a change in control or such change
in  control  does not occur  within one year from the date  hereof.  A change in
control  is  defined  as: the  change in the legal or  beneficial  ownership  of
fifty-one  percent  (51%) of the shares of the  Company's  common stock within a
six-month  period other than by death or operation of law, or the sale of ninety
percent  (90%) or more of the  Company's  aggregate  assets  within a  six-month
period.  Sale of the Company's  stock in a subsidiary or a  subsidiary's  assets
shall not be considered a Change in Control.

     3. The Company may terminate  Employee at any time,  with or without cause,
although  termination  without  cause by the  Company  within one (1) month of a
change in control shall be considered a termination upon a change in control.

*    An asterisk  represents certain material which has been omitted pursuant to
     a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission. Such omitted material has been filed separately with the SEC.
<PAGE>
     4. The  Employee  shall also be  considered  an  employee of the Company if
employed by a subsidiary.

     5. Any  payments  received  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall be credited
against any payments due under any Change in Control Agreement, the Employee has
with the Company.

     6. The payment  pursuant to this Agreement shall be made upon completion of
*.

     7. This Agreement shall expire one (1) year from the date hereof.

                                            AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                            By:       /s/ Larry Washow
                                            Title:    President

                                            EMPLOYEE:

                                             /s/ Peter L. Maul
                                            Peter L. Maul

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