Natural zeolite

Zeolites

Zeolites are special materials that form a fascinating group of microscopic minerals. They are widely used in applications of ionic exchange. They have unique properties as absorbent and molecular sieves and have a major role in heterogeneous catalysis.

Use of the zeolites
Dehydrating agents: Dehydrating agents: Natural zeolite always contains water molecules that are coordinated to the ions that are incorporated in the structure. The structures can be dehydrated through heated vacuum-sealing. The zeolites obtained by this procedure are good drying agents.

Zeolite as ions exchangers: Zeolites have the capacity of exchanging a part or all of their cations.

Zeolites as adsorbents: Due to the fact that dehydrated zeolites have opened porous structures they own high shallow areas and they are able to absorb high quantities of substances other than water. Due to this, zeolite can be used as molecular sieves to purify or separate substances.

Zeolite as catalyst: Maybe the most important use of the zeolite is in the catalysis. They allow to treat until 100 times the quantity of molecules that can be absorbed over a traditional amorphous catalyst.