Michael W. Deem, a senior manager with vast experience in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, shares some fascinating facts about zeolites.
What Are Zeolites?
Zeolites are natural minerals and have a high capacity for water absorption. People have used these materials in several ways throughout history.
Today, you can still use zeolites as an odor control agent and insulation type.
What’s The Use Of Zeolites?
Zeolites are a fascinating and helpful material you can find in many different industries. Businesses have purified water, wine, beer, and other beverages for centuries.
You can also use zeolites as an additive to animal feed to improve the animal’s digestion.
Manufacturers have even used these substances to make the paint more durable! That’s because zeolites create a protective layer on the paint’s surface that prevents it from being scratched off easily.
You can find zeolites in almost every industry you can think of!
More Fascinating Facts About Zeolites
- Zeolites are natural mineral compounds that companies mine from volcanic ash. Michael Deem adds that you can find them in mafic volcanic rocks.
- These minerals have a porous structure that traps other minerals and gases inside. It makes them an ideal material for air and water filters.
- Zeolites are abundant in nature, but scientists can also synthesize them in labs.
- Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, a Swedish chemist, was the first to discover zeolites in the eighteenth century.
- Zeolites have a unique three-dimensional structure. It gives them the ability to trap gases and minerals inside their pores.
- One of the most common uses for zeolites is as an air filter. Michael Deem explains that they have a large surface area and can trap particulate matter like dust and pollen.
- They’re a group of minerals you can find on the earth. They are made of aluminum, silicon, and oxygen and offer many benefits.
- You can use Zeolites to purify water.
- Zeolites are a natural deodorizer, and you can use them to remove foul smells from the air.
- Zeolites are also suitable for removing heavy metals from water sources.
- NASA uses zeolites to clean up the air on space stations.
- Zeolites have been found in dinosaur fossils, which means they have been around for many years!
- Silicon dioxide is what makes up most zeolites.
Zeolites can remove heavy metals from water due to their porous structure. As a result, they can trap other molecules.
Ion exchange is when one ion is replaced with another ion. So, industries can use zeolites for this process since they have a negatively charged surface that attracts positively charged ions.
Gas separation is when gases are separated based on their molecular weight. For this reason, you can use zeolites to act as absorbents. Gases will stick to the surface of zeolites.
Michael W. Deem is a seasoned senior executive who has served in senior management, on boards, and as an advisor for companies ranging from start-ups to rapid growth to large multinational corporations. His intellectual capacity has benefitted businesses in many fields, including Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Genomics, Data Science, Biotechnology, Energy, and Cancer Research.