Zeolite in the Environment
Zeolite, what is it, what does it do and where is it used?
Zeolite is a natural, inert, clay-silicate rock, which generally cleans and manages the environment in which it is found. Zeolite has a unique combination of properties that make it a special material, which is used in a wide range of applications. Its structure consists of countless holes (openings) at the micromolecular level. It is hydrophilic, i.e. it can absorb and eliminate water up to 60% of its weight. It has a high ion exchange capacity and can bind elements and compounds of large molecular structure. It could also be described as a filter or a molecular sponge. Three-dimensional representation of ... Read more
Zeolite as a Potential Medium for Ammonium Recovery and Second Cheese Whey Treatment
The efficiency of natural zeolite to remove ammonium from artificial wastewater (ammonium aqueous solutions) and to treat second cheese whey was examined, aiming to recover nitrogen nutrients that can be used for further applications, such as slow-release fertilizers. Sorption experiments were performed using artificial wastewater and zeolite of different granulometries (i.e., 0.71–1.0, 1.8–2.0, 2.0–2.8, 2.8–4.0, and 4.0–5.0 mm). The granulometry of the zeolite had no significant effect on its ability to absorb ammonium. Nevertheless, smaller particles (0.71–1.0 mm) exhibited quicker NH4+-N adsorption rates of up to 93.0% in the first 10 min. Zeolite as a Potential Medium for Ammonium Recovery ... Read more
Zeolite and its potential uses in agriculture
Zeolite and its potential uses in agriculture C. Sangeetha* and P. Baskar1, Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641 003, India. Received: 10-09-2015 Accepted: 25-02-2016 DOI:10.18805/ar.v0iof.9627 ABSTRACT In many parts of the world food security is being affected due to declining quality and/or quantity of the soil resource base and climate change. In this context, farming with zeolites has drawn attention. Zeolites are natural aluminosilicates present in rocks different part of the world. Use of zeolite has gained a momentum in the recent past owing to multitude of benefits accured from them. Zeolites are useful in agriculture because of their ... Read more