“What IS Zeolite And What’s It Good For?”

Very basically, its primary uses for me are to help buffer PH, supply grit and supply minerals to the worms’ diet that they otherwise may not get. It is also beneficial to the plants given the castings.

To get a little more technical: (Theres several sections here)

Features/Benefits

(Source: Castle Mountain Zeolites)

Features

– High CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity)
– Very high crystallinity deposit/very little non crystalline material present (<1%)
– High content of both clinoptilolite & mordenite
– Very hard (rock) deposit (mho’s index =  ~ 5.5)
– Uniform reddish pink colour
– Very high affinity for & binding of water
– Slow release of water
– Forms sol (single phase) with water when finely ground (median 19 micron) showing its close affinity with water
– Consistent density (about 0.75g/mL for ANZ 38 powder)
– Safe naturally occurring mineral deposit

Benefits

– High ammonia (& ammoniacals – ammonia like molecules) binding capacity
– High binding capacity for cations (metal ions)
– High binding capacity for low molecular weight gases including H₂S, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides etc
– Lighter than sand requiring less back washing pressure saving power and water
– Good processed shape for filtration media giving better filtration properties
– No activation/pre process required

 USES:

Worm Farming

Also known as vermiculture our zeolite works by trapping  digested protein/nitrogen through cation-exchange; assists in maintaining a stable the pH value of the worm beds; absorbs and holds heavy metals; increases the nutrient value of wormcasts plus reduces odours within the worm farm

 Application of zeolite in vermiculture

Zeolite is a very unique mineral with a cage-like skeletal structure that allows it to trap, hold and exchange materials from its internal structure. It is an insoluble and chemically stable aluminium silicate mineral that was formed from the glass component of volcanic ash millions of years ago. Zeolite is employed in commercial systems using large numbers of earthworms to stabilise organic waste and to produce vermicast by treating various organic wastes, including domestic organic matter, abattoir waste, green waste, fruit and vegetable waste, wood pulp and cardboard, sewage sludge, animal manures, etc. The application of zeolite with correct blend of carbon and nitrogenous wastes could considerably reduce the odour problem, and it is due to this reason that large-scale operations are virtually odourless and are operating in relatively low costs.

In vermiculture, nitrogen values decrease rapidly, mainly due to volatilization. By applying Zeolite, the nitrogen can be trapped through cation exchange; it further prevents the atmospheric loss. In an acidic medium, the leaching of heavy metal from the waste threats the fertility of the soil and lives of earthworms. This too can be mitigated by using zeolite. Heavy metals are exchanged and trapped in the zeolite, and cannot be extracted by plants or earthworms. This process also inhibits bioaccumulation of heavy metals in worms. Zeolite helps to raise and lower the pH of wastes through cation exchange, as distinct from lime, which will only raise the pH. To obtain maximum benefits from zeolite in vermiculture, it is important to have the zeolite well mixed with the organic waste. Typical applications will use 3 to 5% of zeolite on a weight to volume basis (30 – 50) kg of zeolite per cubic metre of waste.

 Benefits of zeolite

Zeolite provides the following benefits:
Improves the conversion i.e., reduces the time required to convert organic waste to a valuable by-product, vermicast.

1. During the conversion process zeolite reduces or eliminates the production of foul or unpleasant odours by absorbing gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.
2. Ties up some undesirable materials such as heavy metals and prevents their release to the environment as well as reducing potential bio-accumulation of these elements in worms.
3. Provides a ‘safer’ environment for worms by buffering pH

Pollution Control
Reduces ammonia and BOD levels in ion exchange columns or bed effluent, can be back flushed and regenerated, increases nitrogen/ammonia recovered for fertiliser; increases sewerage plant capacity. Increases biological activity, reduces nutrient levels, cuts sludge volume and odours.

The cage like structure of the zeolites provides a sufficiently wide inner and outer area for the ionic exchanges and chemical reactions. The pores inside zeolites encompass a significant proportion of their volume. These pores act as molecular sieves. Naturally zeolites are loaded with negative charge sites and have high ion exchange capacities. Due to their porous structure, hydrophilicity (water loving), and high ion exchange capacity, they have the capability of retaining, adsorbing and absorbing a number of gases and malodours; moisture; petrochemicals, radioactive ions, ammonium ions, some toxins, heavy metal ions. Today, owing to its environment nature construct and low costs, natural zeolite such as CastleMountain are widely used in a number of industrial sectors, agricultural, horticultural, domestic and several environmental projects.

Animal Feeds
Incorporation and benefit derived there from:
–    increases weight gain in poultry, pigs, cattle, sheep and other livestock;
–    may improve health of pets;
–    reduces the odour from their faeces and urine;
–    diminishes ammonia toxicity and scouring;
–    increases nitrogen and sulphur levels in manures for higher fertiliser values;
–    reduces odour levels in sheds and pens; and,
–    will safen the use of urea in ruminant diets.

Water Filtration
CastleMountain Zeolites offer the opportunity to both physically and chemically treat water simultaneously, thus greatly improving water quality. Our zeolite is very effective (high binding capacity and high affinity) in binding and removal of ammonia and like molecules, other volatile malodours and also soluble metal ions including those of pollutant heavy metals (Mercury, Cadmium and Lead). Examples of use are in swimming pool, potable water, cleaning contaminated water and in effluent treatment.

Mining Rehabilitation
Will assist in creating a living soil increasing the speed of site rehabilitation as most topsoils when stockpiled become biologically dead before reuse; will assist in stabilising pH for plant peaks in topic salts from earth moving; offers a safe habitat for plant friendly soil microorganisms from inoculums or decolonization; remediation of mines through absorption and retention of dangerous heavy metals and other metallurgical wastes.

Crops/Pastures/Horticulture
Higher yields through making fertilisers more effective by retaining nutrients longer such as ammonium nitrate, potassium, magnesium and calcium as well as trace elements for slow release as needed to lower fertiliser costs; substantial yield improvements; less nutrient leeching; long term soil improvement; aids in water holding capacity and encourages non-pathogenic soil microbial growth; leads to long term soil improvements and aids in obtaining a “living soil”.

Aquaculture
Decreases ammonia levels in ponds and tanks; filtrates water for cleaner tanks. Our zeolite aids in the removal of particulate material when used as filter medium, control and maintenance of very low levels of nitrogen from excretion from the growing animal (fish, crustaceans, mollusks etc,) and control and maintenance of cations in water.  Reduces algal growth.

Turf & Amenity
Will permanently increase the soil’s cation excahange capacity and water holding capacity. Will absorb and slowly rerelease fertilisers giving retention of key nutrients. Will buffer salt spray in coastal locations. Generally will significantly improve turf root development leading to less water and fertiliser use.

Source: CastleMountain Zeolite (The producer) www.cmzeolites.com.au/areas-of-use

What Is Zeolite

Clinoptilolite is the type of natural zeolite that is most widely used commercially and has high economic significance. Other natural zeolites used commercially are Mordenite and Chabazite. There are a total of 42 types (geologically termed “species”) of natural zeolite, each having different compositions. The natural zeolite of the CastleMountain deposit is a natural mixture of 85% clinoptilolite and 15% mordenite.

Natural zeolites form in association with volcanic activity. Most natural zeolites of the type in Castle Mountain’s deposit were formed millions of years ago as a result of the reaction of the ashes erupted from volcanoes that fell into specific semi-saline lakes. The process of their formation is called zeolitization. Due to such variations as in temperature – geological location – water to ash ratio – salt content of the lake water during the formation of the zeolites will all provide unique properties into the compositions of each deposit.

The cage like structure of the zeolites provides a sufficiently wide inner and outer area for the ionic exchanges and chemical reactions. The pores inside zeolites encompass a significant proportion of their volume. These pores act as molecular sieves. Naturally zeolites are loaded with negative charge sites and have high ion exchange capacities. Due to their porous structure, hydrophilicity (water loving), and high ion exchange capacity, they have the capability of retaining, adsorbing and absorbing a number of gases and malodours; moisture; petrochemicals, radioactive ions, ammonium ions, some toxins, heavy metal ions. Today, owing to its environment nature construct and low costs, natural zeolite such as CastleMountain are widely used in a number of industrial sectors, agricultural, horticultural, domestic and several environmental projects.

How Is Zeolite Formed

Most zeolite deposits around the world were formed approximately 3 million to 30 million years ago, the Castle Mountain Zeolites deposit is much older at approximately 300,000 million years and is thought to be one of the oldest commercial zeolite deposit in the world. Unlike most other zeolites it is hard, very stable and contains no soluble salts. Zeolite is formed when particularly violent volcanoes erupted enormous amounts of ash containing aluminosilicates of alkaline and alkaline earth. Some of the wind borne ash settled to form thick ash beds.

Most of the time ash falls into the ocean it just becomes sediment or onto land and it just becomes soil. In some other cases the ash may fall into lakes. These lakes cannot be seawater or fresh water but must be a semi-saline lake. If the chemistry of the lake is in the right range the chemical reaction of volcanic ash and in few salts in the water will result in the formation of a natural zeolite. The material is said to be zeolitised.

Characteristics of each zeolite deposit will vary due to the circumstances of its formation. Natural differences such as temperature, geographic location and the ratio and concentration of the various salts determine which particular zeolite minerals are formed.

These differences during the formation of a zeolite deposit are the reason that each natural zeolite deposit has unique properties. Our zeolite is crystalline meaning it is quite hard compared to most natural zeolite deposits. Once we process it to a particular particle size it will hold its size under typical handling and from a wetting or drying process.
As our deposit is so very old, over time water has had the opportunity to percolate through the original ash beds. This has leached out most of the original cations that formed our zeolite. Our product is largely not preloaded with any cations so it is ready for most uses without any further treatment.

Safety To Humans?

Thanks to Julie Pettitt from New Zealand – she pointed out there’s a company there selling it as a human detoxification product:

http://www.zeolite.net.nz/