Zeolite means “ Boiling Stone” in fact and was found by a Swedish mineralogist named Freiherr Axel Cronstedt in the year 1756.
Zeolites are natural minerals formed millions of years ago. They come into existence by the alternation of volcanic ashes in water environment.
Zeolite molecule has a micro-cellular structure. Main units of its structure are AlO4 or SiO4. Its shape resembles a honey comb or a cage, that contains changable cations, water and millions of channels and pores. Floppy connection of the cations provides easy ion exchange, so water molecules can both leave the structure or can be adsorbed back when heated. Those properties of its molecular structure enable zeolite to be used as a molecular sieve, in elective adsorption, or in other catalytic applications. All of these chemical and physical properties makes zeolite a suitable utility material for various industrial purposes.
During the last 200 years, 50 types of natural zeolite and more than 200 types of synthetic zeolite have been defined. 8 types of zeolite have commercial prominence. These are; Clinoptilolite, Analsim, Erionite, Ferrierite, Hoylandite, Laumontite, Mordenite and Fillipsite.
Clinoptilolite is one of the most important mineral group of zeolite in the world, due to its characteristics such as; commonness, utility in various areas, economical exploitation and homogeneity. Also in Turkey, clinoptilolite is a critically important mineral because of its reserve, formation, homogeneity and high mineral quality.
