The potential of zeolite – N. Lygeros
The potential of zeolite is overcoming more and more obstacles and transforming this strategic mineral into a national issue that resonates with the Greek people. Until recently, zeolite was completely unknown in our country, whilst humanity uses four million tonnes of it every year. Subsequently, its basic properties were unknown, even though it acts as a natural detoxifier on a global scale. Furthermore, no one knew exactly what was happening with Greek zeolite, whilst legal cases were pending due to red tape. Now, however, the Greek people have learnt about its many applications in the hydrocarbon, construction, agriculture and livestock sectors, as well as for human use. They are aware of its ability to combat frost, the olive fruit fly, nematodes and fungi.
It has gained knowledge on how to increase production whilst saving water and fertilisers, and on avoiding harsh pesticides that pollute the environment. Now, Greek zeolite has finally caught the attention of the media, which are promoting its use to boost the Greek economy. For it is unacceptable that this mineral wealth should exist in our country – and particularly in Thrace, which faces various problems from time to time – this mineral wealth to lie untapped, when it could easily become an export product that would make a substantial contribution to our recovery. Furthermore, given its properties, it could easily enhance the production of olive oil, which is a flagship product on a global scale. It is therefore essential that we overcome the remaining obstacles to realise this vision, starting with the extraction of Greek zeolite and the strategic planning of vertical integration tooptimise its use and highlight the fact that clinoptilolite, as a natural zeolite, ranks among the world’s greatest innovations for the future of humanity.
