Resumen de Russian zeolite industry could get second wind from changing government policy
Industrial Minerals
"We studied in detail the chemical composition of the zeolites of the [Sibai] deposit and its effects on the bodies of animals," she said. "First, we conducted an experiment at the Ufa experimental farm, which had an average milk yield from forage feeding cattle of 5.5 tonnes of milk per cow, per year. By adding 150g of zeolite from the Sibai deposit to the diet, we received a 350-480kg gain in milk yield per cow, per year." Roman Davydenko, head of investment at the government of Bashkortostan, said that there is a clear rise in interest in producing zeolite. "This [interest] is not limited to the animal feed industry," he said. "In particular, some companies are currently exploring the ability of zeolites to adsorb harmful substances. One Moscow firm is engaged in studying the possibility of using Sibai zeolites for sewage treatment, while researchers at Magnitogorsk are trying to use zeolites to filter drinking water." "Now our zeolite is used as an absorbent for cleaning industrial wastewater at the Alrosa's Aikhal diamond deposit," he explained. "But loading the plant with the mineral treatment does not happen every year, so consumption remains small. However, [Alrosa] plans to increase its overall volume of zeolite consumption with the [launch of] its International mine to 30,000-35,000 tpa," he added.
