The application of natural zeolites in agriculture

Abstract

Zeolites are natural microporous crystals that are formed by the elements from the earth’s core: silicon, aluminium and oxygen, Natural zeolite deposits were formed millions of years ago from volcanic ash, There are about 50 types of natural zeolites, Zeolites can be used for various applications in industry, agriculture, environment protection. Application of natural zeolites in agriculture is based on their ability to bind other substances through mechanisms of ion change or adsorption, The zeolites exhibit affinity for the binding (removal) of ammonia from aqueous solutions, This enables their use in agriculture and horticulture: zeolites are used as nitrogen fertilizers, since they can adsorb ammonium ions from manure, Their application in purification of wastewaters from agriculture is also possible, As soil additives, they can reduce the acceptance of mercury and other heavy metals by plants, thus preventing their entrance in the food chains, The most commonly used natural zeolite is clinoptilolite, due to its high dehydrating capacity, high adsorption and ion exchange capacities and catalytic activities. This paper presents a literature review on the use of natural zeolites in agriculture; with special emphasis on the application of clinoptilolite as adsorbent of ammonia and as a carrier of fertilizers of pastures and meadows.

Zeoliti su prirodni mikroporozni kristali koji se sastoje od elemenata iz Zemljine kore: silicijuma, aluminijuma i kiseonika. Prirodni zeolitski depoziti nastali su pre više miliona godina od vulkanskog pepela. Postoji oko 50 vrsta prirodnih zeolita. Zeoliti se koriste za različite primene: u industriji, poljoprivredi, zaštiti okoline. Primena prirodnih zeolita u poljoprivredi bazira se na njihovoj sposobnosti za vezivanje drugih susptanci mehanizmom jonske izmene ili adsorpcijom. Zeoliti pokazuju afinitet za vezivanje (uklanjanje) amonijaka iz vodenih rastvora. Ovo omogućava njihovu primenu u poljoprivredi i hortikulturi. Kako mogu da vrše adsorpciju amonijum jona iz stajnjaka zeoliti se u smesi sa stajnjakom mogu koristiti kao azotna organomineralna đubriva,. Takođe je moguća njihova primena u prečišćavanju otpadnih poljoprivrednih voda. Kao dodaci zemljištu, mogu da redukuju prihvatanje žive i ostalih teških metala od strane biljaka, i tako spreče njihov ulazak u lance ishrane. Najčešće korišćen prirodni zeolit je klinoptilolit, zbog svog visokog adsorpcionog kapaciteta, mogućnosti jonske izmene i primene kao katalizatora, kao i zbog visokog dehidratacionog kapaciteta. Ovaj rad donosi pregled literaturnih rezultata na temu korišćenja prirodnih zeolita u poljoprivredi; sa posebnim osvrtom na upotrebu klinoptilolita kao adsorbenta amonijaka i mogućnost njegovog korišćenja kao nosača za đubrenje livada i pašnjaka.