Zeolites for the environment
Qiaolin Lang, Pengfei Lu, Xiaobo Yang, Valentin Valtchev
Abstract
Zeolites, are characterized by their microporous, crystalline structures with a four-connected framework with variable compositions, predominantly aluminosilicates. They are extensively utilized as adsorbents, catalysts, and ion exchangers across domestic and industrial sectors. With the ongoing energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources and the pursuit of environmentally sustainable development, zeolites are increasingly being explored beyond their traditional application fields. They are investigated for their adsorption and catalytic capabilities in the protection and restoration of air, water, and soil quality, as well as in the environmentally friendly “green” production of chemicals. This review article details these novel and potential applications of zeolites, emphasizing the unique properties that render them suitable for each specific use case and discussing how these properties can be fine-tuned through material selection or purpose-driven synthesis methods.