Zeolite
Zeolite Chemical formula: (Na,K,Ca)2-3Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O36·12H2O (Clinoptilolite)
Packing: 25 KG Bag – Bulk
Crystal structure: Monoclinic
Type of mineral group: Tectosilicates
Hardness level: 3.5- 5.5
Volumetric mass: 2 – 2.4 gr/cm2
Natural (Mineral)
This element is a mineral derived from aluminum silicate. Due to its high absorption, widely used as an adsorbent in various industries including agriculture. Zeolites exist in nature in about 40 different types, but only 9 of them are abundant in nature, such as Clinoptilolite ، Mordenite ، Laumontite ، Ferrierite and etc.
The physical and chemical properties of these mineral elements are quite different and this difference comes from the crystalline structure of their chemical composition. Clinoptilolite is the most important and widely used zeolite in agriculture and other industries such as water treatment and cleaners.
Synthetic zeolite
Synthetic zeolites are also widely used in industry and have produced 150 of them. Synthetic zeolites resolved many of the disadvantages of natural zeolites such as uneven pore size, high impurities, inadequate pore size, inadequate PH (acidity), etc.
These major changes have led to a great tendency to replace natural zeolites with synthetic zeolites used in various industries, especially agricultural and chemical industries. Synthetic zeolites are divided into 4 categories according to the number of rings and the size of the cavities:
- with small holes: 8 loops cavity with 3 – 4.5 angstroms in size such as Zeolite A
- with Medium holes: 10 loops cavity with 4.5 – 6 angstroms in size such as Zeolite ZSM-5
- with Large holes: 10 loops cavity with 4.5 – 6 angstroms in size such as Zeolite X
- with very large holes: 14 loops cavity
Uses and Hazardous of Synthetic
Synthetic zeo-lite causes the high abnormal growth of aquatic plants. This abnormal growth reduces the oxygen level in the water and destroys other aquatic life.
Petrochemical refineries also have significant demand for zeolite molecular screeners for adsorption. Synthetic Zeolites Increase Demand for Catalytic Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) in Petrochemical Refineries.
Iranian Zeolite
There are many zeolite mines in Iran that produce one of the highest quality products in the world. Semnan province is one of the richest centers of production and extraction of this mineral. The existence of mineral quality veins has caused Semnan to become one of the hubs of Iran’s mining industry.