Adsorption Capacity: Zeolite is known for its high adsorption capacity, allowing it to be selective for hydrocarbons including oil and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Its porous structure gives oil molecules a large surface area and removes them effectively from water.

Selectivity: Zeolite exhibits selectivity in oil adsorption on water. This means that when zeolite comes into contact with oil-laden water, it repels water and preferably absorbs and retains oil. This property makes zeolite an efficient tool for cleaning up oil spills because it helps separate oil and remove it from water.

How Zeolite Can Be Used? It can be used as floating booms or mats to hold and absorb surface oil. These systems are designed to encircle and trap the oil, allowing the zeolite to repel water and adsorb the oil. Booms and mats can be deployed and retrieved with ease, making them a practical option for oil spill cleanup.

Powdered method: Zeolite can also be used as a powder adsorbent. Micro-sized zeolite particles can be dispersed on oil-contaminated water, where they readily absorb the oil. The resulting mixture can then be collected using various methods such as skimming or mechanical separation.

Fixed-bed filters: Zeolite can be used in columns or fixed-bed filters as a component of water treatment systems. These filters allow the passage of oil-contaminated water because the zeolite serves as a medium for adsorbing the oil pollutants. The trapped oil can then be separated from the water and recovered later while the cleansed water continues to flow through.

Regeneration and Reuse: Zeolite is a regenerable adsorbent, thus it can be treated to flush out the oil that has been adsorbing on it and recover its ability to absorb liquids. Thermal treatment and solvent extraction are two regeneration processes that aid in clearing the zeolite of impurities and oil. Zeolite can be reused thanks to this regeneration process, making it an economical and environmentally friendly choice for cleaning up oil spills.