They have the ability to extract trace amounts of heavy metals so that existing water supplies may be reused. In agricultural uses, zeolites decrease ammonia released from animal wastes and retain the nitrogen in the solid wastes, which increases the fertilizer value of the solid material. They may be spread on the floors of pig farms to absorb liquid waste and reduce odors. Zeolites have been used to neutralize low pH soils. Zeolites may have applications to control aquaculture environments and fish culture recirculating water systems.
Natural zeolites can absorb oil spills.
They have been used for oxygen production for enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces, for river and pond aeration, to reoxygenate downstream waters of paper and pulp plants, and for secondary sewage treatment. They have use in coal gasification and natural gas purification. Zeolites have potential miscellaneous uses in paper products, contruction products, fluoride toothpaste, and in recycle-dialysis systems. Erionite was first described in 1898, but reports of occurrences were not published until 1959. Commercial mining of zeolites, including ores containing erionite, began in the 1960s.