Editing Zeolite (section)

==Production==
The first synthetic structure was reported by [[Richard Barrer]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barrer |first=R. M. |date=1948-01-01 |title=33. Synthesis of a zeolitic mineral with chabazite-like sorptive properties |url=https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1948/jr/jr9480000127 |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed) |language=en |pages=127–132 |doi=10.1039/JR9480000127 |pmid=18906370 |issn=0368-1769}}</ref> Industrially important zeolites are produced synthetically. Typical procedures entail heating aqueous solutions of [[alumina]] and [[silica]] with [[sodium hydroxide]]. Equivalent reagents include [[sodium aluminate]] and [[sodium silicate]]. Further variations include the use of structure directing agents (SDA) such as [[quaternary ammonium cation]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Inorganic Syntheses: Nonmolecular Solids|vauthors=Rollmann LD, Valyocsik EW, Shannon RD|publisher=Wiley & Sons|year=1995|isbn=9780470132616|veditors=Murphy DW, Interrante LV|volume=30|location=New York|pages=227–234|chapter=Zeolite Molecular Sieves|doi=10.1002/9780470132616.ch43}}</ref>

Synthetic zeolites hold some key advantages over their natural analogs. The synthetic materials are manufactured in a uniform, phase-pure state. It is also possible to produce zeolite structures that do not appear in nature. Zeolite A is a well-known example. Since the principal raw materials used to manufacture zeolites are silica and alumina, which are among the most abundant mineral components on earth, the potential to supply zeolites is virtually unlimited.

===Ore mining===
[[File:Natrolit, Gracza 2Polska.jpg|thumb|[[Natrolite]] from Poland]]
{{As of | 2016}}, the world's annual production of natural zeolite approximates 3 million [[tonne]]s. Major producers in 2010 included [[China]] (2 million tonnes), [[South Korea]] (210,000 t), [[Japan]] (150,000 t), [[Jordan]] (140,000 t), [[Turkey]] (100,000 t) [[Slovakia]] (85,000 t) and the [[United States]] (59,000 t).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zeolites/mcs-2011-zeoli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608074556/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zeolites/mcs-2011-zeoli.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-08 |url-status=live|title=Zeolites (natural)|date=2011|website=[[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] Mineral Commodity Summaries|access-date=8 Feb 2019}}</ref> The ready availability of zeolite-rich rock at low cost and the shortage of competing minerals and rocks are probably the most important factors for its large-scale use. According to the [[United States Geological Survey]], it is likely that a significant percentage of the material sold as zeolites in some countries is ground or sawn volcanic [[tuff]] that contains only a small amount of zeolites. These materials are used for construction, e.g. [[dimension stone]] (as an altered volcanic tuff), lightweight [[aggregate (composite)|aggregate]], [[Pozzolana|pozzolanic cement]], and [[soil conditioner]]s.<ref name="Virta-2011">{{Cite web|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zeolites/myb1-2009-zeoli.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608074402/http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/zeolites/myb1-2009-zeoli.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-08 |url-status=live|title=2009 Minerals Yearbook - Zeolites|last=Virta RL|date=2011|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey|USGS]]|access-date=8 Feb 2019}}</ref>

===Synthesis===
[[File:Ceolite nax.JPG|thumb|left|Synthetic zeolite]]
Over 200 synthetic zeolites have been reported.<ref>{{Cite journal|vauthors=Earl DJ, Deem MW|date=2006|title=Toward a Database of Hypothetical Zeolite Structures|journal=[[Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research|Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.]]|volume=45|issue=16|pages=5449–5454|doi=10.1021/ie0510728|issn=0888-5885}}</ref> Most zeolites have aluminosilicate frameworks but some incorporate germanium, iron, gallium, boron, zinc, tin, and titanium.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.springer.com/us/book/9780751404807|title=Molecular Sieves - Principles of Synthesis and Identification|last=Szostak|first=Rosemarie|publisher=Springer|year=1998|isbn=9780751404807|series=Van Nostrand Reinhold Electrical/Computer Science and Engineering Series|language=en|name-list-style=vanc}}</ref> Zeolite synthesis involves [[sol-gel]]-like processes. The product properties depend on reaction mixture composition, pH of the system, [[operating temperature]], pre-reaction 'seeding' time, reaction time as well as the templates used. In the sol-gel process, other elements (metals, metal oxides) can be easily incorporated.