Associated Professor Rumyana Hristova – Chemical Engineer

Zeolites are a large group of minerals, that are in their essence water aluminosilicates basically of sodium and potassium and rarely of barium and calcium. Their crystal structure resembles honeycomb that cannot be destroyed under any atmospheric conditions.

They are also characterized by their ability to conduct and then to absorb again the so-called zeolite water depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment. The channels in their structure have different forms and sizes and are able to pass selectively one and to hold other building blocks. This major characteristic turns them into a natural molecular sieve. The widespread use of zeolites is because they have two basic abilities that distinguish them from every other mineral – they have a selective passage of molecules with different size and
also they realize easy ion exchange. They have widespread usage as ion exchange instrument for purifying drinking water because it removes part of the harmful admixture. Sodium zeolite put into limewater with high content of calcium can replace the sodium in its structure with calcium and this way the water
becomes softer. They are used as filters because practically they adsorb almost every heavy metal as well as some radioactive substances like strontium and caesium. The water that is ionized with zeolite like water “Sevtopolis” has healing impact on one’s
organism. It throws away the poisons that are taken via food and regulates metabolism.

Associated Professor Rumyana Hristova
Chemical Engineer