ZEOLITE
Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicates characterized by high surface areas and high cation exchange capacities.
Zeolite deposits were formed millions of years ago, when volcanoes erupted enormous amounts of ash–aluminosilicates of alkaline and alkaline earths.
Some of the wind borne ash settled to form thick ash beds. In some cases the ash fell into lakes. In another case water percolated through the ash beds.
In both cases, the chemical reaction of volcanic ash and salt water resulted in the formation of natural zeolites.
The characteristic of a zeolite deposit was decided in it’s genesis. Small natural differences such as temperature, geographic location and ash/water properties result in a slightly different composition.
Therefore some unique properties were given to a few of the deposits. These small differences present during the formation of a zeolite deposit is the reason that each natural zeolite property has distinctly unique properties.
The alumina and silica in the ash stack form into a stable, open and three dimensional honey-comb structure.
There are over forty different kinds of natural zeolite structures. For example, clinoptilolite has a 5/1 silica to alumina ratio.
Zeolite is an amazing crystalline mineral capable of adsorbing and absorbing many different types of gases, moisture, petrochemicals, heavy metals, low-level radioactive elements and a multitude of various solutions.
The channels in the zeolite provide large surface areas on which chemical reactions can take place. The cavities and channels within the crystal can occupy up to 50% of its volume.
Zeolites can adsorb or absorb large amounts of materials, such as ions or gas molecules.
Zeolite has a wide range of applications:
Water Treatment
* Water filtration
* Heavy metal removal
* Swimming pools
Wastewater Treatment
* Ammonia in municipal sludge
* Heavy metal removal
* Septic leach fields
Agriculture
* Odor control
* Confined animal environmental control
* Livestock feed additives
Horticulture
* Nurseries, Greenhouses
* Floriculture
* Vegetables/herbs
* Foliage
* Tree and shrub transplanting
* Turf grass soil amendment
* Reclamation, revegetation, landscaping
* Silviculture (forestry, tree plantations)
* Medium for hydroponic growing
Household Products
* Household odor control
* Pet odor control
Industrial Products
* Absorbents for oil and spills
* Gas separations
Radioactive Waste
* Site remediation/decontamination
Aquaculture
* Ammonia filtration in fish hatcheries
* Biofilter media
Zeolite uses
- Usage Areas Feed Additive :clinoptilolite Application On The Daily Diet Of The Animals, Reduction Of The Digestion System Illnesses.
- clinoptilolite Addition To The Feed Formulation Has A Positive Effect On The Growing Up Of The Animals.
- Fertilizer Additive / Soil Conditioner :clinoptilolites Are Slow Release Fertilisers.
- Plant Nutrients Such As Nitrogen And Potassium Are Held By The Negatively Charged Clinoptilolite Structure, And Released On Demand.waste Water Treatmeant Media:zeolites Contribute To A Cleaner, Safer Environment In A Great Number Of Ways.
- In Fact Nearly Every Application Of Zeolites Has Been Driven By Environmental Concerns, Or Plays A Significant Role In Reducing Toxic Waste.
- cat Litter :zeolite Mineral That Is A Molecular Sponge With High Porosity And Lock-up Capabilityto Absorb Free Ammonia Other Cat Odours Pool Filtration Media :zeolite Offers Superior Performance To Sand And Carbon Filters, Giving Purer Water And Higher Throughput Rates With Less Maintenance Required.
- Zeolites Highly Porous Structure Captures Particulate Contamination Down To 4 Microns In Size.
- aquacultural Uses :zeolites Can Reduce Ammonium And Hydrogen Sulphide Levels In Fish/prawn Ponds, Resulting In Increased Fish/prawn Growth Rates And Population Densities.
- Aquarium Filtration Media :zeolite Is An Efficient Ammonia Remover And Also Provides A Large Surface Area For Nitrifying Bacteria In Recirculating Systems.
- Zeolite Does Not Only Provide Optical Clearness Of Your Water, But It Also Keeps It Biologically Clean.
- Radioactive Waste Treatment :natural Zeolite Has A High Ion Exchange Capacity And A Particular Affinity For Heavy Metal Cations.
- It Can Absorb Elements Such As Strontium 90, Caesium 137 And Other Radioactive Isotopes From Solution, And Hold Them In Its 3 Dimensional Crystal Framework.
- Fillers :zeolites Are Used As Fillers In The Manufacture Of Paper. These Filler Grades Of Zeolite Have A Large Potential For Utilization In The Paint And Plastics Industries.
- Gas Purification And Seperation:zeolites Act As Molecular Sieves, They Are Used To Purify Or Sweeten Natural Gases Through The Removal Of Impurities Such As Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide And Water.
- In Addition To Upgrading Natural Gas, Zeolites Are Used To Separate Oxygen And Nitrogen In Pressure Swing Adsorption Columns.
- Lightweight Construction Materials:natural Zeolite Can Be Used To Prepare Lightweight Concrete For Construction.
- Its Porous Silicate Structure Makes It Much Lighter Than Sand Which Gives Increased Volume Per Tonne But With Similar Hardness And Strength.
- Zeolite Is Free From Clay Which Reduces The Overall Strength Of The Concrete, And Its Porous Structure Holds Moisture Which Facilitates A More Rapid Curing Of The Concrete.