Zeolitisation of diatoms.

The development of low cost hierarchical porous materials based upon the zeolitisation of diatomaceous earth for fluid waste benification is described. Two preparative approaches invole: first, using the diatom as a support for zeolite nanocrystals; second, direct pseudomorphic transformation of the diatom into a zeolite. These hierarchical porous materials are potentially useful for important industrial processes in ion-exchange, catalysis and waste benefication.