Natural Clinoptilolite Zeolite Filter

2.5" x 10" Clinoptilolite zeolite filter derived from granulated 100% natural volcanic ash. Natural zeolite acts as a natural ion exchange media and molecular sieve. Outstanding for removal of organic contaminants (including hydrocarbons from fracking operations), ammonia, radionuclides, and heavy metals. Replace every 3000 gallons.

Ion Exchange

The magnetic charge leftover from the molecular makeup of Zeolite nets a negative charge on the Zeolite Framework, known as Isomorphous Substitution. These areas of negative charge are therefore an ideal site for adsorption of exchangeable cations in the solution. If there is no suitable site in the structure, or if it is already filled, the cations occupy the sites of water molecules upon ion exchange. This property of Zeolite is part of what softens and filters wastewater that passes the material.

Molecular Sieves

Zeolites have the ability to exclude certain cations depending on the size of their microporous channels and cavities within the Zeolite structure. Those cations that are larger than the internal cavities are excluded from all or part of the internal surface of the Zeolite. Whereas, cations that do “fit” into the internal structure can be exchanged (through isomorphous substitution or ion-exchange) into the structure and become part of the Zeolite Framework. Hence, natural Zeolites are renowned for their molecular sieve properties (Tsitsishvili it al., 1992).

The first practical applications of Zeolites were performed in the 19th century (Breck, 1974). The applications for molecular sieve and cation ion exchange applications have been known for hundreds of years.

“Various aspects of work revolving around the Bakken Oil Patch can benefit from the use of Zeolite. The Cation exchange and Molecular Sieve properties allow for cleanup and capture of oil, hydrocarbons, ammonia, methane, radionuclides, radioactive isotopes, and heavy metals; as well as an array of positively charged elements and compounds. Zeolite can play a role in site remediation, landfills, spill cleanup, municipalities, air filtration, wastewater filtration, and radiation capture.”

Fracturing Wastewater

It is well known the fracturing industry produces billions of gallons of wastewater each year. Several processing plants exist that allow for oil to be separated from water and water to be re-used for additional fracturing or cleaned and entered back into the ecosystem. Zeolite has the ability to properly filter fracturing water of heavy metals, radiation, and hydrocarbons. Possibilities exist for filtration chambers that use Zeolite as part of the process to filter down to acceptable release into streams. Natural Zeolites, in the wastewater treatment of mixed metal contaminated effluents, showed through the conditioning or Clinoptilolite, that 90% of heavy metals could be removed within a 15 minute contact time. The selectivity sequence for Clinoptilolite was shown to be:

Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn > Cr > Co > Ni

The volumes of fracturing wastewater that are being produced are creating value added means of disposal. The Oil and Gas Research Council approved a study for Dust Control by identifying oil wells that produce salt water that is high in calcium and low in sodium for the counties to use as a dust control method on gravel roads. Zeolite is already used as a water conservation tool in dust control. If NORMs are present at all in this wastewater, bio-accumulation can easily occur in roadside ditches. Spreading 7+ mesh Zeolite on roads prior to dust treatment will have a twofold advantage both with increased water utilization and capturing of NORMs.

Zeolite Water Filtration

The possibility to filter for the removal of various ions from salty waters and brines was studied in study of radium removal from mine water with the application of zeolites as water softeners. They found very promising techniques for removal of not only radium isotopes, but also other ions (barium, iron, manganese). Treatment of several various water samples was done to assess the removal efficiency for natural radionuclides. Results showed very good effects for the removal of radium isotopes as well as for barium ions. The study concluded that it can be clearly seen that the results of purification were very good. The efficiency of radium removal from water exceeded 90 % for all samples (Application of Zeolites, 2013).

Solidification