Editing Perlite (section)

== Uses ==
Because of its low density and relatively low price (about US$150 per tonne of unexpanded perlite), many commercial applications for perlite have been developed.

=== Construction and manufacturing ===
In the [[construction]] and manufacturing fields, it is used in lightweight [[plaster]]s, concrete and [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]], [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] and ceiling tiles.<ref name="usgs">Wallace P. Bolen [http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/myb1-2009-perli.pdf Perlite] USGS 2009 Minerals Yearbook</ref> It may also be used to build [[composite materials]] that are [[Sandwich structured composite|sandwich-structured]]<ref>Md Arifuzzaman and H. S. Kim, Novel flexural behaviour of sandwich structures made of perlite foam/sodium silicate core and paper skin, Construction and Building Materials, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 148 2017, pp 321–333.</ref> or to create [[syntactic foam]].<ref>Dipendra Shastri and H. S. Kim, “A new consolidation process for expanded perlite particles”, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 60, June, 2014, pp.1–7.</ref>

Perlite filters are fairly common in filtering [[beer]] before it is bottled.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Small quantities of perlite are also used in [[foundry|foundries]], [[cryogenic]] insulation, and [[ceramics (art)|ceramics]] (as a clay additive).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Moradi |first1=L. |last2=Mirzaei |first2=M. |title=Immobilization of Lewis acidic ionic liquid on perlite nanoparticle surfaces as a highly efficient solid acid catalyst for the solvent-free synthesis of xanthene derivatives |journal=RSC Advances |date=2019 |volume=9 |issue=35 |pages=19940–19948 |doi=10.1039/c9ra03312b|pmid=35514727 |pmc=9065349 |bibcode=2019RSCAd...919940M }}</ref> It is also used by the explosives industry.<ref>[http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4940497.html Emulsion explosive composition containing expanded perlite] United States Patent 4940497</ref>

=== Aquatic filtration ===
Perlite is an excellent [[Filtration#Filter aid|filtration aid]] and is used extensively as an alternative to [[diatomaceous earth]]. The popularity of perlite usage as a filter medium is growing considerably worldwide.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} Several products exist in the market to provide perlite based filtration. Several perlite filters and perlite media have met NSF-50 approval (Aquify PMF Series and AquaPerl), which standardizes water quality and technology safety and performance. Perlite can be safely disposed of through existing sewage systems, although some pool operators choose to separate the perlite using settling tanks or screening systems to be disposed of separately.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

=== Biotechnology ===
Due to thermal and mechanical stability, non-toxicity, and high resistance against microbial attacks and organic solvents, perlite is widely used in biotechnological applications.  Perlite was found to be an excellent support for immobilization of biocatalysts such as enzymes for [[bioremediation]] and sensing applications.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Torabi|first1=Seyed-Fakhreddin|last2=Khajeh|first2=Khosro|last3=Ghasempur|first3=Salehe|last4=Ghaemi|first4=Nasser|last5=Siadat|first5=Seyed-Omid Ranaei|date=2007-08-31|title=Covalent attachment of cholesterol oxidase and horseradish peroxidase on perlite through silanization: Activity, stability and co-immobilization|journal=Journal of Biotechnology|volume=131|issue=2|pages=111–120|doi=10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.04.015|pmid=17658643}}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
[[File:Trowel.jpg|thumb|Perlite mixed into potting compost]]
In [[horticulture]], perlite can be used as a [[soil amendment]] or alone as a medium for [[hydroponics]] or for starting [[Cutting (plant)|cuttings]]. When used as an amendment, it has high permeability and low water retention and helps prevent [[Soil compaction (agriculture)|soil compaction]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ISU Extension News Release|url=http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/feb04/feb0429.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040323003156/http://www.extension.iastate.edu/newsrel/2004/feb04/feb0429.html|archive-date=2004-03-23|work=iastate.edu}}</ref>

=== Cosmetics ===
Perlite is used in cosmetics as an absorbent and mechanical [[Exfoliation (cosmetology)|exfoliant]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perlite|url=https://www.lorealparisusa.com/ingredient-library/perlite.aspx|access-date=2020-10-04|publisher=[[L'Oréal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Winter|first=Ruth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3hLmyma2-MsC&q=perlite&pg=PA402|title=A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, 7th Edition: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients Found in Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals|date=2009-10-20|publisher=Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale|isbn=978-0-307-45986-2|pages=402|language=en}}</ref> {{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2 | Estimated perlite consumption <br />in the U.S. by application<ref name=usgs2>[http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2011-perli.pdf Perlite], USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2011</ref>
|-
! Fraction !! Use<ref name="usgs2008">{{cite web|url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2008-perli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514063904/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2008-perli.pdf |archive-date=2008-05-14 |url-status=live|title=PERLITE : (Data in thousand metric tons unless otherwise noted)|website=Minerals.usgs.gov|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 53% || building construction products
|-
| 14% || horticultural aggregate
|-
| 14% || fillers
|-
| 8% || filter aid
|-
| 11% || other
|}
{{Col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:200px; height:200px;"
! colspan=2 | Cost of unexpanded perlite<ref>{{cite journal
 |date=January 2006
 | title = Perlite
 | journal = U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries
 | pages = 122–123
 | url =http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/perlimcs06.pdf}}</ref>
|-
! End of<br/>year !! Price in the U.S.<br/>$ per [[Metric ton|metric&nbsp;ton]]
|-
| 2001 || $36.30
|-
| 2002 || $36.50
|-
| 2003 || $38.20
|-
| 2004 ||  $41.80<ref name="usgs"/>
|-
| 2005 ||  $40.50<ref name="usgs"/>
|-
| 2006 || $42.90
|-
| 2007 || $45.30
|-
| 2008 || $48.00
|-
| 2009 || $49.00
|}
{{col-end}}

===Substitutes===
Perlite can be replaced for all of its uses. Substitutes include:<ref name="usgs2013">{{citation|title=USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries|url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2013-perli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528025129/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/perlite/mcs-2013-perli.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-28 |url-status=live|year=2013}}</ref>
*[[Diatomaceous earth|Diatomite]], used for filter-aids
*[[Expanded clay aggregate|Expanded clay]], an alternative lightweight filler for building materials
*[[Shale]]
*[[Pumice]]
*[[Slag]]
*[[Vermiculite]] - many expanders of perlite are also exfoliating vermiculite and belong to both trade associations