5 questions you need to ask your zeolite salesperson:
We want to contribute to clarification. And we want customers to develop a sense of awareness, a mindset, and be able to ask questions. Because sometimes we're very surprised by all the things written in product descriptions that don't actually exist. We then open our eyes wide and say: probably a typo.
We're getting quite persistent emails rating Lifekraft Zeolite as EXCELLENT. I already know that, but here's the thing: I can buy it for €2,800.00 for two years. Out of curiosity, I looked up who has already purchased this rating, which you can then use for one or two years. → What I'm trying to say is, I understand why our customers are so confused and unsure. You can even buy an unverified quality criterion... It makes me sad.
Here you'll find questions you can use to check the quality of the zeolite and the integrity of the seller. Prof. Dr. Hecht also used these questions to check us, and they were always very important to him.
1. Where is zeolite mined?
Not all mining areas have the composition that zeolite needs to be considered a feed additive. The clinoptilolite content must be >80%. Not all of them achieve that, so ask about the country of origin . The Carpathian Mountains are long, and there are three different zeolite mining areas there: Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Each with a different composition. Prof. Hecht says the silicon to aluminum ratio is more important than the clinoptilolite content. It should be at least 5:1 . Even better, 6:1 . That is, six times as much silicon as aluminum . This ratio also guarantees that the aluminum is firmly bound to the silicon and cannot come loose. Never. So pay attention to the ratio. And here we are talking exclusively about natural zeolite. It is different with synthetic zeolites.
2. What is the grain/particle size of the zeolite powder?
Too coarse is too coarse. Because then it's not as effective, and if the dosage is too low, you won't get the desired result. This is also the reason why users sometimes say: "It didn't work." Then the zeolite powder was too coarse, or it was simply vacuumed or sieved, rather than pulverized, broken down, and activated.
Ask to see the grain size measurement. It tells you exactly what size each percentage is.
Read below to find out which grain sizes are recommended for which application. >>
3. How was the zeolite ground?
The zeolite lattices must be broken down. Zeolite must be activated. This occurs most gently and purely with tribomechanical micronization. The material crushes itself. The particles collide with each other at tremendous speed in the airflow turbulence and grind themselves together. This also creates the high basic energy and electrical charge . In comparison, there are ball mills that crush zeolite with high abrasion. The abrasion from the balls is already adsorbed. The result is that the zeolite is already quite saturated and no longer absorbs as much. Even worse, it is contaminated with heavy metals.
We frequently receive photos of customers holding a magnet next to zeolite "dissolved" in water and then noticing with horror how black it turns. Therefore, please be careful. The finer zeolite is ground with conventional ball mills, the longer it is crushed between the balls, and the more abrasion can occur. Recently, we heard and saw again that a zeolite seller had to recall a zeolite product because this batch was contaminated with heavy metals. Heavy metals that get into the zeolite through the milling method and perhaps also during transport. It's a cynical saying: a product that's supposed to detoxify poisons. And all of this ruins the reputation of this wonderful natural all-rounder. Unfortunately.
4. How was the raw material transported?
Prof. Hecht impressed upon us the importance of this. Zeolite, which is transported for long hours across Europe, perhaps unsealed, in bulk or in open big bags or paper sacks, absorbs a great deal from its surroundings due to its inherent adsorption capacity. Do the mining sites meet sufficient quality standards? Or is there cross-contamination because the trucks have previously transported other materials, and these are still trapped in the cracks in the truck beds, thus contaminating the zeolite? This is also the reason why we only have the zeolite from Eastern Slovakia delivered in sealed big bags and then offer HORSEKRAFT zeolite, for example, in easily resealable tubs and cans. In horse stables, there are some animals that curiously nibble on bags and are very inquisitive about anything open.
Zeolite must be stored in resealable containers. Ideally , plastic containers (BPA-free, please) or glass containers. Zeolite absorbs water and substances. We looked at all the paper bags used for Steinkraft Zeolite for cosmetics and as a feed additive and decided definitively against them. Even those with inner coatings didn't meet our quality criteria.
5. Was the zeolite powder produced by a registered feed manufacturer?
These have high quality standards that they must meet, and they are inspected very regularly and unannounced by the feed authority . And the feed authority in Austria is extremely strict. They suddenly show up at our door and inspect everything very closely. They check our internal controls and monitor that the legal requirements for feed safety and feed hygiene are being met. If anything is not right, an objection is raised immediately, an official order is issued, and the feed manufacturer must respond promptly. The Federal Office for Food Safety (BAES) ensures rapid correction and optimization cycles.
That feels good, doesn't it?
What we value at Steinkraft - the most important criteria for zeolite summarized:
Importance of knowledge of quality criteria
We attach great importance to ensuring that our customers understand the quality criteria for zeolite and can make their own decisions. It's also important that customers can assess the fineness of the powder visually or by touch. We plan to create a video to facilitate the recognition and assessment of grain sizes.
Understanding "Ultrafine" in Zeolite Products
Many zeolite products are advertised as "ultrafine," but this can be misleading. A recently tested zeolite product for dogs, advertised as "ultrafine," actually had a grain size of 95 microns (d50). This means that 50% of the product is coarser than 95 microns (µm), which we at Steinkraft Zeolite definitely do not consider ultrafine.
Different grain sizes and their applications
Zeolite products often vary in grain size, often exceeding 50 microns. In some mining areas, the raw material is sieved to 50 microns and sold as a commodity. Such grain sizes are suitable for industrial purposes, but not recommended for other applications such as feed optimization, soil amendments, foliar fertilizers, face masks, or toothbrushing.
Recommendations for zeolite grain sizes• Horses : Average grain size [d50] of 24 µm. • Dogs and cats : 14 µm. • Humans : 8 µm, recommended by Prof. Hecht. • Manure treatment : 35 µm to remain suspended in the manure and not settle. • Foliar fertilizer : Less than 8 µm for effective uptake by the plant stomata. • Litter box : Coarser granules to avoid dust. • Soil improvers : A grain size of 35 µm is recommended. |
Importance of the grinding process
The grinding process is crucial for the quality of the zeolite. Ball mills that grind zeolite to 8 µm often cause abrasion, which puts strain on the zeolite's crystal lattices. A tribomechanical grinding process, such as our Air2Air Activation technology, prevents this abrasion and ensures greater purity in the final product.
conclusion
To ensure the best quality and effectiveness, we recommend that customers always check and critically examine the grain size distribution, especially when products are advertised as "ultrafine."
AND: Do the magnet test. Add zeolite to a glass of water, stir, and hold a magnet to the outside rim of the glass. Customers send us photos of what it looks like when a black cloud forms. These are the contaminants that get into the product due to improper storage and, above all, grinding. You don't want a product like that on your skin. Or in your bathwater. Or on your teeth.
