Natural Zeolites are volcanic minerals that are mined in certain parts of the world. When volcanoes erupt, molten lava and thick ash pour out often flows into the sea. Thanks to a chemical reaction between the ash from the volcano and the salt from the sea, amazing minerals like zeolites are formed in the hardened lava over the course of thousands of years. Natural zeolites have the advantage over synthetic zeolites of having superior crystalline structures with “pores” or “cages” of dimensions suitable for many varied purposes.

Thanks to the honeycomb-like structure, a zeolite works at the cellular level to trap allergens, heavy metals, toxins, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances. Most substances, especially those which are harmful, are positively charged. Because it is one of the few negatively charged minerals in nature, a zeolite acts as a magnet, drawing toxins to it, capturing them in its cage.

Zeolite is a powerful tool against toxins, but take note that not all zeolite is the same. There are 48 naturally occurring zeolites known with varying physical and chemical properties. Zeolites can be regenerated using relatively easy methods such as heating to remove adsorbed materials, ion exchanging with sodium to remove cations, or pressure swing to remove adsorbed gases.

Zeolites contribute to a cleaner, safer environment in a great number of ways. In fact nearly every application of zeolites has been driven by environmental concerns and plays a significant role in reducing toxic waste.