Water filtration is an important part of running many industries effectively. There are various ways of filtering gases and liquids, all of which pass the fluid through a porous material that retains the larger particles. In this context, zeolite for water filtration is attracting a lot of attention when it comes to choosing the most suitable filter medium.
In a filter medium, the macropores play a larger role in retaining substances, while the small pores or micropores allow finer filtration. In this guide we look in detail at how zeolite works and how effective it is in filtration.
What is natural zeolite?
Natural zeolite forms from a reaction between volcanic ash or rock and alkaline water. As a result, it has a microporous, crystalline structure made of aluminosilicates, combining silicon, oxygen and aluminium.
Natural zeolite can be used to adsorb moisture and other molecules in a variety of situations, and is used to clarify colloids by adsorption. Zeolites are particularly good at cation exchange: removing dissolved ions from a solution and replacing them with other ions of similar charge. In essence, zeolite can take the place of undesirable substances in the solution.
Zeolite is used in many applications, including agriculture, water purification, filtration and animal feed, because of its inherent filtration capacity. Heavy metal cations such as mercury, nickel, arsenic and cadmium can be taken up by zeolites, which release other ions in exchange, and cation exchange characteristics vary with the type of zeolite.
How is it used?
Natural zeolite is widely used in industrial applications, mainly because of these advantages:
- resistance to abrasion
- a larger surface area than other filter media
- a microcrystalline structure
- high porosity.
Zeolite for water filtration delivers more effective filtration, retaining particles down to 1 micron, and adsorbs metals such as iron and manganese and certain compounds such as ammonium. It also allows longer filter runs, reducing water and energy consumption because fewer backwashes are needed. Desalination plant operators are already familiar with its advantages in multimedia filters.
How natural zeolite forms
At pH 9–10, saline water and volcanic glass can react naturally to form zeolites at temperatures between 27 °C and 55 °C. This chemical process can take up to 50,000 years.
Natural zeolites can contain varying amounts of mineral impurities. That is why it is important to source this filter medium from suppliers that apply strict quality control to extraction and processing, ensuring adequate purity and uniformity in line with international standards for the treatment of water intended for human consumption.
Natural zeolites, notably clinoptilolite, have clear advantages over synthetic zeolites for water filtration.
The most common uses of zeolite in water filtration include:
- seawater desalination for human consumption
- drinking water filtration
- wastewater treatment
- swimming pools
- gas filtration
- agriculture
- construction.
Conclusion
Industrial applications take advantage of zeolite’s capacity for adsorption processes involving liquids and vapours. The use of zeolite for water filtration is well established, with many successful applications in seawater desalination, drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment.
Zeolite already has an excellent reputation among builders and operators of industrial reverse osmosis plants and effluent treatment plants, as well as among manufacturers of this type of equipment.
KEIKEN provides advice on choosing the most suitable filter media and supplies premium zeolite for water filtration with NSF certification and compliance with UNE-EN 16070 for the treatment of water intended for human consumption: a natural product with a low carbon footprint, recommended for retaining suspended particles from 1 micron. For enquiries and quotations, call +34 910 577 254, email info@keiken.es or contact us.
