Zeolite

Its physical and chemical properties and some of its uses

Zeolite minerals

They are aluminosilicates belonging to the structural silicates that include siliceous and feldspars, but they resemble feldspar-like minerals as their crystal lattice consists of tetrahedra, half of which are occupied by silicon-4 [SiO4] and the other half by aluminum 5-[AlO4], silicon and aluminum atoms are linked to each other by oxygen atoms and every 4 oxygen atoms are linked to 4 neighboring water molecules.

Zeolite carries a mostly negative electrical charge (due to symmetrical ionic substitution) on which many positive ions such as sodium, potassium and calcium are absorbed, which are able to exchange with the medium freely and in both directions (zeolite mineral –><– the surrounding medium).

It also carries some variable charges due to the ionization of the Si-OH and Al-OH groups.

It also contains microporous spaces in its crystal structure, so it preserves and stores water within these pores.

The use of zeolite minerals depends on their adsorption and exchange properties as well as their chemical and physical properties.
Of the approximately 40 minerals currently known to be part of the zeolite group, six of them are present in quantities and have application specifications, namely clitopetalolist, mordenite, arionite, chabasite, ferririte and phillipsite, which are currently being exploited and used in industry and agriculture. Their areas of use are determined by their unique and useful properties.
It is characterized by being a highly electrically charged mineral that is not susceptible to swelling due to its solid three-dimensional groove system.
The Si/Al ratio is the determinant of the electrical charge density, and therefore changing the number of valence transfers between Si and Al leads to a change in the electrical charge.