Zeolites for Health

Zeolites are a species of an aluminosilicate mineral. They are referred to as molecular sieves due to their porous structure, which makes them useful as filters. They are both manufactured and found in nature.
The discovery of zeolites resulted in a variety of commercial uses, especially in health. They are also used in agricultural, medical and sanitary industries.

Types

• One hundred seventy-five different zeolite species have been found since 2008, and 40 of these occur naturally. The most common zeolites are clinoptilolite, natrolite, stilbite, chabazite and phillipsite.

Food

• In the agricultural industry, zeolites are sometimes used in soil treatments, as with clinoptilolite, which releases potassium when placed in soil. For a slow release of nitrogen, zeolites can be filled with ammonium.
  Their porous nature allows zeolites to moderate water levels, because they can absorb more than half of their weight in water and will slowly release it as needed by the plants.

Medicine

• Zeolites are commonly used in the production of medical grade oxygen. Their porous structure filters out nitrogen.
  In cases of bleeding, calcium-loaded zeolites are used in a clotting agent for severe bleeding.

Sanitation

• Zeolites are also used in laundry worldwide. In 1992, more than one million metric tons of anhydrous 'zeolite A' was used in the laundry industry.

  In water purification, zeolites are used as ion-exchange beds commercially and domestically.

Warning

• Liquid zeolite, a suspension of micronized powdered zeolite, is sold as a dietary supplement. The long-term safety of ingesting zeolites is unknown.