• CSIR - Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute
  • G20
Inorganic Chemicals (other than Salt and Marine Chemicals)

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

Manufacture of Zeolite-A (Detergent Builder) from different raw materials - bauxite or bauxite leachate (Bayer liquor), low grade bauxite

  • IPR
    IPR Status & Details:
  • US 7,560,093 B2
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

Zeolite-A is used as a detergent builder to remove hardness causing calcium and magnesium ions from the water. Zeolite-A is used as an alternative to polluting sodium tripolyphosphate in the powder detergents

Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact
  • A world class technology for the manufacture of Zeolite–A powder is developed and commercialized.
  • Prepared Zeolite-A has calcium binding capacity of 160-170 mg of CaO/g and particle size of less than 5 micron.
  • The physicochemical properties of product Zeolite – A powder compete with those of produced by Degussa, PQ Corporation, SPIC Fine Chem. etc.
  • In the process sodium silicate and sodium aluminate solution allowed to react in different steps under controlled conditions to prepare Zeolite-A.
  • Expertise is available to produce Zeolite–A powder using bauxite, Bayer liquor, sodium aluminate powder, waste alumina, kaolin and siliceous earth as starting materials
    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:
    TRL 9

    CSMCRI have successfully commissioned and undertaken trial runs for the production of Zeolite – A on commercial plant of the capacity 10,000 MT/annum

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

    With stringent environmental regulations and demand for green alternatives causing water pollution, the Zeolite-A as a detergent builder has excellent opportunity

    Environmental Considerations:

    The process generates alkaline effluent containing sodium hydroxide, which can be treated using appropriate technique to recycle/reuse DM or RO water.

    Status of Licensing:
    Licensed technology

    Technology has been licensed to different industries.

    Status of Commercialization:
    Commercialized

    Commercialized, Under commercial production by NALCO, Odisha and Gujarat Credo Minerals Industries Limited Gujarat

    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Silica source (sodium silicate or silica containing waste), alumina source (sodium aluminate, aluminum hydrate, or alumina waste), sodium hydroxide, RO or demineralized water etc.

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    Raw material storage tanks, solution preparation tanks, Jacketed Reactor with stirrer, Pumps, Filter press, spray drier, packing unit etc.

    Techno-Economics

    Robust technology with capability to use waste and economic raw material for the preparation of Zeolite-A, will make the process techno-economical feasible and competitive in the open market.

    Technology Package

    Process know-how for Zeolite-A; Demonstration of the process at 25 Kg/batch; License fee, royalty and other financial details are available on request.