<p>The way to go is bung them in the microwave or oven. But then your oven will smell like cigarette smoke etc. Best in the sunligh/ patio where the odours can dissipate in open air. Nothing to do with witchcraft. It is simply an absorbent volcanic rock, much like a dense pumice.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-08T13:52:37.380Z
2018-06-08T13:52:37.380Z
Andrea Sartori
<p>Zeolites are very similar to clays, with one key difference. The molecular structure of clays is rather compact. In contrast, the molecular structure of zeolites has tiny molecular-sized holes, and these holes are wont to connect. The result is a porous, tunnel-filled structure at the molecular level.</p>

<p>The resulting tunnels make zeolites very good at absorbing substances that fit very nicely in those tunnels. What those substances are depends on the zeolite. There are a large number of naturally occurring zeolites, and even larger number of manufactured zeolites. Which zeolite absorbs what substance depends very much on the nature of the holes in the zeolite. As an example, the International Space Station uses a particular kind of zeolites ("zeolite 5A") to selectively absorb carbon dioxide from the breathing atmosphere.</p>

<p>Zeolites would need to be discarded after becoming saturated if all they did was absorb stuff. That's not the case. It's rather easy to make zeolites relinquish the stuff they have absorbed because the absorption mechanism is rather weak. All it takes is a smallish amount of energy. Zeolites used in industrial settings are subjected to heat, noxious chemicals,or both to make them relinquish the stuff they have absorbed.</p>

<p>In addition to having a large number of industrial uses, zeolites have apparently become attractive to the "all natural" crowd. (I suspect the larger number of "non-natural" zeolites are verboten amongst this crowd.) Exposing zeolites to sunlight means they absorb heat and ultraviolet light. This is indeed one way to make zeolites reject whatever has been absorbed. That's not very efficient; it would be much more efficient to bake those zeolites and/or expose them to a series of caustic chemical baths. However, that wouldn't play well with the "all natural" crowd.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-13T22:44:42.347Z
Baking would probably be natural enough but it would rather defeat the point. If you have a "sponge" that's soaked up all the stinky stuff in your house, putting it in the oven so it releases all the stinkiness back into your kitchen isn't a great idea.
David Richerby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-13T21:55:48.020Z
2014-09-13T21:55:48.020Z
David Hammen
<p>Various companies offer "volcanic crystals" or "volcanic rock" available in small mesh bags for odor control.  The best description I have found is that these are made up largely of Zeolites.  All of these manufacturers suggest that the rocks will trap odors and to just recharge the rocks every 6 months by putting it out in direct sunlight.</p>

<p>This sounds like witchcraft!  Can someone explain why putting the rocks in sunlight (versus other light) recharges them and makes them effective at trapping odors again?  How does the light "release" the odor?  Is it the heat of the sunlight, or could this be used in the winter as well?</p>

<geology><volcanology><rocks>
Zeolites, odor control, and the witchcraft of sunlight
Christopher
# Zeolites, odor control, and the witchcraft of sunlight

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-13)

Various companies offer "volcanic crystals" or "volcanic rock" available in small mesh bags for odor control. The best description I have found is that these are made up largely of Zeolites. All of these manufacturers suggest that the rocks will trap odors and to just recharge the rocks every 6 months by putting it out in direct sunlight.

This sounds like witchcraft! Can someone explain why putting the rocks in sunlight (versus other light) recharges them and makes them effective at trapping odors again? How does the light "release" the odor? Is it the heat of the sunlight, or could this be used in the winter as well?

**Tags:** geology, volcanology, rocks


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-13. Score: 15 | Accepted answer

Zeolites are very similar to clays, with one key difference. The molecular structure of clays is rather compact. In contrast, the molecular structure of zeolites has tiny molecular-sized holes, and these holes are wont to connect. The result is a porous, tunnel-filled structure at the molecular level.

The resulting tunnels make zeolites very good at absorbing substances that fit very nicely in those tunnels. What those substances are depends on the zeolite. There are a large number of naturally occurring zeolites, and even larger number of manufactured zeolites. Which zeolite absorbs what substance depends very much on the nature of the holes in the zeolite. As an example, the International Space Station uses a particular kind of zeolites ("zeolite 5A") to selectively absorb carbon dioxide from the breathing atmosphere.

Zeolites would need to be discarded after becoming saturated if all they did was absorb stuff. That's not the case. It's rather easy to make zeolites relinquish the stuff they have absorbed because the absorption mechanism is rather weak. All it takes is a smallish amount of energy. Zeolites used in industrial settings are subjected to heat, noxious chemicals,or both to make them relinquish the stuff they have absorbed.

In addition to having a large number of industrial uses, zeolites have apparently become attractive to the "all natural" crowd. (I suspect the larger number of "non-natural" zeolites are verboten amongst this crowd.) Exposing zeolites to sunlight means they absorb heat and ultraviolet light. This is indeed one way to make zeolites reject whatever has been absorbed. That's not very efficient; it would be much more efficient to bake those zeolites and/or expose them to a series of caustic chemical baths. However, that wouldn't play well with the "all natural" crowd.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Baking would probably be natural enough but it would rather defeat the point. If you have a "sponge" that's soaked up all the stinky stuff in your house, putting it in the oven so it releases all the stinkiness back into your kitchen isn't a great idea.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-08. Score: -1

The way to go is bung them in the microwave or oven. But then your oven will smell like cigarette smoke etc. Best in the sunligh/ patio where the odours can dissipate in open air. Nothing to do with witchcraft. It is simply an absorbent volcanic rock, much like a dense pumice.


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