The physical, chemical, and mineral make up of " clinoptilolite" zeolite have broad commercial applications in the United States. While technology and information on this mineral is somewhat lacking in the United States compared to some of the other countries, research is presently being studied on the uses of clinoptilolite or "clino" zeolites.
Zeolites are presently used in several applications in the US. They are being used as catalysts in the petroleum refining industry, molecular sieves that are able to seperate gases, and chemically inert carriers of reactant chemicals. Zeolites are also used in animal hygene, and animal feed, animal feeding operations, horticulture, water treatment, absorbents, Aquariums, for the adsorption of ammonia and nitrates, air and water filters, and for moisture and odor control.
Zeolites are aluminosilicates, made up of a three-dimensional crystal lattice, with loosely bound cations, able to hydrate and dehydrate without altering their chemical or physical structures. (Holmes, 1994). The main commercial result is the ability to exchange ions, absorb gases, and vapors, act as molecular-scale sieves (Breck, 1974), and catalyze reactions owing to fixed pore sizes and active sites in the crystal lattice. About 40 natural zeolites and over 100 synthetic zeolites exist. Clino is the most popular of the natural zeolites and is found in several areas of the united states.
