Natural Australian Zeolite

Escott zeolite is an amazing natural mineral because of its extraordinary ability to absorb, hold, release, and exchange different chemicals, nutrients, toxins and ions according to need. Escott zeolite was formed from the glass component of volcanic ash millions of years ago. Zeolite Australia's huge 300 million year old zeolite deposit at Werris Creek in northern News South Wales is unique and possess superior characteristics for a diverse range of industrial, commercial, rural and domestic applications.

The major mineral of Escott zeolite is clinoptilolite, which is a calcium, potassium, magnesium, aluminosilicate and has a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of +120 meq. /100g. Escott zeolite is unusually hard and low in sodium compared with other zeolites of the world and is therefore particularly durable and suitable for agricultural and horticultural and water filtration applications.

Escott zeolite has a unique internally porous atomic structure that provides a very open framework with a network of pores giving it a large surface area (up to 450m /g) and high porosity (up to 45%) for trapping and exchanging valuable cations, water and other molecules without any change in structure. Escott zeolite is a robust, insoluble and chemically stable natural mineral (part of a group of hydrated alumino silicates) and can be used as an organic agricultural and horticultural input. It carries a negative charge balanced by freely moving cations with positive charges. This provides an ideal trap for positive cations like nitrogen rich ammonium and potassium which are then released when demanded by plants. Escott high-quality, natural zeolite is therefor an excellent water filtration mediua and soil amendment - fertiliser carrier and can continue to function as a water and nutrient reservoir in the soil indefinitely. Escott zeolite has a particularly affinity for ammonium (N H4+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca+) magnesium (Mg+) and trace elements which makes it particularly useful as a soil, compost and fertiliser additive to attract, retain and slowly release critical plant nutrients.

Uses for Zeolite

Pollution Control

Increases biological activity, reduces nutrient levels, cuts sludge volume and odours, reduces ammonia and BOD levels in ion exchange columns or bed effluent, can be back flushed and regenerated, with ammonia recovered for fertiliser, increases sewerage plant capacity and life cycle.

Mining

Remediation of mines through absorption and retention of dangerous heavy metals and other metallurgical wastes.

Crops/Pastures

Higher yields through making fertilisers more effective by preventing leeching and holding valuable nutrients such as ammonium nitrate, potassium, magnesium and calcium as well as trace elements for slow release as needed. Also produces long term soil improvements.

Horticulture

Retains nutrients longer to lower fertiliser costs; substantial yield improvements; less nutrient leeching; long term soil improvement.

Stockfeeds

Diminishes ammonia toxicity and scouring; increases nitrogen levels in manures for higher fertiliser values; reduces odour levels in sheds and a safer, slow release off ammonia from urea; produces lower mortality rates in fowls and limits the moisture levels in organic wastes.

Aquaculture

Decreases ammonia levels in ponds and tanks; filtrates water for cleaner tanks.

Turf

Produces significant turf root improvement; dense and deeper feeder root system; less fertilisers required; retention of key nutrients; increased soil potassium levels; permanent increase in cation-exchange capacity.

Vermiculture

Traps nitrogen through cation-exchange, eliminates odours in worm farms, absorbs and holds heavy metals, stabilises the pH value of worm beds; increases the nutrient value of vermicast.

Technical Specifications for Australian Zeolite

Material Safety Data Sheet  ( Acrobat pdf - 12kb)

Chemical and Physical Analysis of Escott Zeolite ( Acrobat pdf - 16kb)