The use of zeolite to bind and remove toxic substances from the environment and the human body. Postgraduate thesis
This paper is a literature review of the structure, properties and applications of zeolite. Zeolites are clay-silicate minerals with small pores and a crystalline structure that enables them to release and absorb water and other chemical compounds and molecules, without their structure being destroyed. Their basic structural unit is a silicon or aluminium tetrahedron, and the interconnected units form a crystal lattice, leaving gaps (pores) between them. They are further characterised by a high capacity for ion exchange and for binding molecules and/or compounds with a molecular size equal to or smaller than the pores of their lattice. Owing to their structure and properties, they are widely used in many sectors, including agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture and industry. However, their use plays a catalytic role in the environment, where they bind and remove heavy metals and other toxic compounds from water and soil, remove radioactive isotopes from nuclear waste, improves the quality of drinking water, and is used for the treatment of urban, industrial and agricultural effluents. Notably, they also appear to contribute to human health. Many reports highlight their antimicrobial and antiviral effects; as dietary supplements, they increase antioxidant levels in the blood, detoxify the body of heavy metals and toxins, improve the absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract, scavenge free radicals, accelerate wound healing, stabilise and regulate the immune system, and, finally, appear to contribute to the treatment of cancer.