zoelight

[Guest guest]

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Message: 2

Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 06:52:18 +0000 (UTC)

Subject: Re: Re: More Stupid IAQ stuff!

I have used it in house and it does act as an adsorbant.

We all know this product its called Zeolite.

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Info on zeolight:

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/zeolites.htm

The zeolites are a popular group of minerals for collectors and an important

group of minerals for industrial and other purposes. They combine rarity,

beauty, complexity and unique crystal habits. Typically forming in the

cavities, or vesicles, of volcanic rocks, zeolites are the result of very

low grade metamorphism. Some form from just subtle amounts of heat and

pressure and can just barely be called metamorphic while others are found in

obviously metamorphic regimes. Zeolite crystals have been grown on board the

space shuttle and are undergoing extensive research into their formation and

unique properties.

The zeolites are framework silicates consisting of interlocking tetrahedrons

of SiO4 and AlO4. In order to be a zeolite the ratio (Si +Al)/O must equal

1/2. The alumino-silicate structure is negatively charged and attracts the

positive cations that reside within. Unlike most other tectosilicates,

zeolites have large vacant spaces or cages in their structures that allow

space for large cations such as sodium, potassium, barium and calcium and

even relatively large molecules and cation groups such as water, ammonia,

carbonate ions and nitrate ions. In the more useful zeolites, the spaces are

interconnected and form long wide channels of varying sizes depending on the

mineral. These channels allow the easy movement of the resident ions and

molecules into and out of the structure. Zeolites are characterized by their

ability to lose and absorb water without damage to their crystal structures.

The large channels explain the consistent low specific gravity of these

minerals.

Zeolites have many useful purposes. They can perform ion exchange,

filtering, odor removal, chemical sieve and gas absorption tasks. The most

well known use for zeolites is in water softeners. Calcium in water can

cause it to be " hard " and capable of forming scum and other problems.

Zeolites charged with the much less damaging sodium ions can allow the hard

water to pass through its structure and exchange the calcium for the sodium

ions. This process is reversable. In a similar way zeolites can absorb ions

and molecules and thus act as a filter for odor control, toxin removal and

as a chemical sieve. Zeolites can have the water in their structures driven

off by heat with the basic structure left intact. Then other solutions can

be pushed through the structure. The zeolites can then act as a delivery

system for the new fluid. This process has applications in medicine,

livestock feeds and other types of research. Zeolites added to livestock

feed have been shown to absorb toxins that are damaging and even fatal to

the growth of the animals, while the basic structure of the zeolite is

biologically neutral. Aquarium hobbyists are seeing more zeolite products in

pet stores as zeolites make excellent removers of ammonia and other toxins.

Most municipal water supplies are processed through zeolites before public

consumption. These uses of zeolites are extremely important for industry,

although synthetic zeolites are now doing the bulk of the work.

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Betty Bridges