CLINOPTILOLITE – NATURAL ZEOLITE
Uses: turf care, land remediation, slow release fertilizers, swimming pool filtration, waste water treatment
Zeolites are a family of crystalline aluminosilicate minerals. The first zeolite was described in 1756 by Cronstedt, a Swedish mineralogist who coined the name from two Greek words meaning ‘boiling stones’, referring to the steam which is produced when the rock is heated.
In common with other zeolites, clinoptilolite has a three dimensional cage-like structure consisting of SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra joined by shared oxygen atoms. The negative charges of the AlO4 units are balanced by the presence of exchangeable cations which can be readily displaced by other substances, for example ammonium ions and certain heavy metals. This phenomenon is known as cation exchange, and it is the high cation exchange capacity (“CEC”) of clinoptilolite which provides many of its useful properties.
Turf Care
Zeolite, applied either by top dressing or “drill and fill” techniques, confers the following benefits:
- Improves nutrient and fertiliser retention in the root zone
- Granules absorb soluble nitrogen and potassium, reducing leaching of key nutrients
- Porous granules increase aeration resulting in healthier turf
- Improves germination rates
- Helps protect against fertiliser scorch
- Robust granules resist soil compaction
In addition, the use of zeolite as a perch layer on top of course backfill when installing drainage systems will minimise the loss of nutrients to ground water, helping to reduce nitrogen pollution and eutrophication.
Remediation
The remediation of contaminated land is an increasingly important issue in many regions of the world. Traditional methods of remediation have included soil washing and soil removal, which are both expensive and disruptive to the environment. An alternative approach is to create soil conditions which immobilise contaminants whilst providing the nutrients and water holding capacity necessary for plant growth. Due to its ability to adsorb a suite of heavy metal contaminants, natural zeolite is already playing an important role in this new technology.
Manufacture of Slow Release Fertilisers
Natural zeolite is used in the manufacture of certain slow release fertilizers, helping to prevent the leaching of excess nutrients into watercourses, thus reducing problems such as nitrogen pollution and eutrophication, as well as reducing the quantity of fertiliser required.
Swimming Pool Filtration
The combination of physical entrapment of fine particles and molecular sieving of contaminants makes Natural Zeolite a superb water filtration medium producing superior water clarity.
Zeolite adsorbs ammonia, reducing the formation of chloramines and reducing the requirement for hypochlorite by around 30%. Chloramines are believed to be carcinogenic and have been implicated as a cause of asthma in children. Stinging eyes, skin irritation and chemical odours are greatly reduced.
- Zeolite filters require significantly less frequent back washing than do sand filters.
- Zeolite’s ability to elevate the pH of mildly acidic water assists the maintenance of an appropriate pH.
- Regeneration can be simply achieved by soaking the zeolite overnight in a 10% salt solution.
Nuclear Waste
Clinoptilolite is used to remove strontium 90 and caesium 137 from low level effluents. Results have been published showing that it also has good selectivity for certain other radionuclides, including cobalt 60.
Clinoptilolite is available from stock in a range of particle sizes (including <300 microns, 0.5-1mm, 1-3mm and 3-5mm), packaged in 25Kg sacks. We can also supply this product in 1 tonne big bags or by road tanker.
For further information please contact us.
RS Minerals Ltd
23 Allerston Way, Guisborough
Cleveland TS14 6GA
United Kingdom
Tel 01287 631530
Fax 01287 637274
International Tel 00 44 1287 631530
Fax 00 44 1287 637274
info@rsminerals.co.uk
