zeolite

[zee-uh-lahyt]

noun

Mineralogy.

1. any of a group of hydrated silicates of aluminum with alkali metals, commonly occurring as secondary minerals in cavities in basic volcanic rocks: used for their molecular sieve properties because they undergo dehydration with little or no change in crystal structure.

zeolite

/ ˈziːəˌlaɪt, ˌziːəˈlɪtɪk /

noun

1. any of a large group of glassy secondary minerals consisting of hydrated aluminium silicates of calcium, sodium, or potassium: formed in cavities in lava flows and plutonic rocks

2. any of a class of similar synthetic materials used in ion exchange and as selective absorbents See molecular sieve

zeolite

1. Any of a family of hydrous aluminum silicate minerals, whose molecules enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, or barium. Zeolites are usually white or colorless, but they can also be red or yellow. They are characterized by their easy and reversible loss of water of hydration. They usually occur within cavities in basalt.

Other Word Forms

• zeolitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeolite¹

1770–80; < Greek ze ( în ) to boil + -o- + -lite

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeolite¹

c18: zeo-, from Greek zein to boil + _-lite ; from the swelling up that occurs under the blowpipe

Example Sentences

For example, in the family of minerals known as zeolites, one might be great at trapping lead while another may not be effective.

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“The level of zeolite dusting is similar to how you would dust a countertop with flour if you were rolling dough,” he said, noting he purchased zeolite in 25-pound tubs from Home Depot.

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To achieve methane conversion without that input of energy, the MIT team designed a hybrid catalyst with two components: a zeolite and a naturally occurring enzyme.

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To synthesize the zeolite catalyst, the researchers remove some atoms of aluminum and replace them with nickel.

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These synthetic porous materials of interest to chemists specializing in selective encapsulation include such buzzwords as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, and zeolites.

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