NASA and the oil industry are funding a study of zeolites , crystals that are used to produce nearly all of the world's gasoline. The oil industry hopes to find ways to improve the zeolites, in order to reduce the cost and pollution associated with producing gasoline and other petroleum products.
Zeolites are rigid crystals with a honeycomb-like network of interconnected tunnels and cages.
In addition to gasoline production, these crystals are used in a variety of household applications. They are in cat litter to absorb odor, in water filters to remove impurities, in laundry detergents to soften hard water , and in automobile catalytic converters to reduce pollutants. The oil industry hopes improved zeolite crystals will increase the amount of gasoline produced per barrel of oil. As part of this research, NASA space shuttles have carried zeolite crystals into space three times since 1992. Next year, NASA will launch a fourth mission involving zeolite crystals, including research on board the International Space Station .