The European standard "EN 16070 Products for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Natural zeolites" applies to natural zeolites used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption. This standard defines the properties of natural zeolites and describes the requirements and relevant test methods for natural zeolites. This standard also provides information on their use in water treatment. The natural zeolites included in this standard are clinoptilolite, chabazite and phillipsite/analcime.
Natural zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicate frameworks whose pores are occupied by water, alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. Due to their unique three-dimensional porous structure, these materials can achieve outstanding adsorption properties. Zeolite generally acts as a good cation exchanger due to its negatively charged surface. Due to its cation exchange capabilities and molecular sieving properties, natural zeolites act as very good adsorbents in separation and purification processes with high selectivity.
Various zeolite modification methods are also available, such as acid treatment, ion exchange, and surfactant functionalization. Modified natural zeolites gain higher adsorption capacity for organics and anions present in water.
Natural zeolites such as clinoptilolite and chabazite have been successfully used in the removal of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, chromium, nickel, cobalt and iron from polluted water. Synthetic zeolites modified with nanomaterials have also been used in the removal of fluoride and arsenic.
Natural zeolites of sedimentary origin have found applications in many environmental protection areas, especially in recent years. These materials exhibit various properties such as physical adsorption, cation exchange, alkali metal reactivity, expansion tendency and thermal insulation, compressive strength and durability. In this respect, they have many applications related to environmental protection.
The most common applications of zeolite-treated tuffs are in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater, soil remediation, soil modification, livestock farming, animal feed, and construction materials. In fact, zeolites exhibit the property of interacting superficially with large organic molecules, being exchangeable if they have a positive charge, or adsorbing if they are polar. A number of interesting applications are being investigated in both environmental and biomedical fields.
Briefly, zeolite is a non-toxic, three-dimensional porous, crystalline, hydrated aluminosilicate with natural adsorbent and ion exchange properties that removes harmful microbes and dispersed insoluble and soluble toxins from drinking water.
Zeolites are used at various stages of the treatment process, such as as a secondary filtration unit after biological treatment or aeration, as a support material for bacteria, and as a filter medium for the simultaneous removal of solid and suspended particles and unwanted ions.
The extremely rapid growth of the world population in recent years, in addition to the industrial revolution, has led to a significant increase in both freshwater consumption and wastewater production. The demand for freshwater now exceeds supply and more and more special treatment is now required to obtain high quality drinking water and to produce environmentally acceptable wastewater. In this respect, the EN 16070 standard provides a solution to an important issue. Because waters of natural, industrial, municipal or agricultural origin contain various suspended, dissolved, colloidal or emulsified organic and inorganic impurities, some of which can be successfully separated using a special class of inorganic compounds such as zeolites.
Among the numerous tests, measurements, analyses and evaluation studies carried out for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services defined in the “EN 16070 Products used in the treatment of water for human consumption - Natural zeolite” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.
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