Abstract: Zeolites of small and uniform size are formed having high magnesium exchange capacities. Zeolite A is disclosed having an average particle size less than 1.7 microns, a calcium carbonate exchange capacity of more than 230 mg calcium carbonate per gram zeolite and a magnesium exchange capacity of more than 140 mg magnesium carbonate per gram zeolite. This zeolite A is produced from a reaction mixture having a water to sodium oxide molar ratio of less than 35:1, and a sodium oxide to silica molar ratio of between 1:1 and 4:1, wherein the silica to alumina molar ratio is greater than 3:1 when the sodium oxide to silica molar ratio is less than 4:3 and the sodium oxide to alumina molar ratio is greater than 4:1 when the sodium oxide to silica molar ratio is greater than 4:3. Zeolite X is disclosed having an average particle size less than 2.

Abstract: Zeolites of small and uniform size are formed having high magnesium exchange capacities. Zeolite A is disclosed having an average particle size less than 1.7 microns, a calcium carbonate exchange capacity of more than 230 mg calcium carbonate per gram zeolite and a magnesium exchange capacity of more than 140 mg magnesium carbonate per gram zeolite. This zeolite A is produced from a reaction mixture having a water to sodium oxide molar ratio of less than 35:1, and a sodium oxide to silica molar ratio of between 1:1 and 4:1, wherein the silica to alumina molar ratio is greater than 3:1 when the sodium oxide to silica molar ratio is less than 4:3 and the sodium oxide to alumina molar ratio is greater than 4:1 when the sodium oxide to silica molar ratio is greater than 4:3. Zeolite X is disclosed having an average particle size less than 2.

Abstract: The contaminants level of a mother liquor can be reduced in the process of forming solutions of sodium aluminate and sodium silicate, adding together the two solutions to produce a reaction mixture comprising a mother liquor and an amorphous sodium aluminosilicate, reacting the reaction mixture to form a zeolite composition containing zeolite A, recovering the zeolite and recycling the mother liquor. This can be done by heating the zeolite A in the reaction mixture to produce a sodalite type product and recovering that sodalite type product as part of the zeolite composition.

Abstract: Zeolite X can be produced in a reaction mixture having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio greater than 5:1. Zeolite A can be produced in a reaction mixture having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio greater than 3:1. The resulting zeolite X and zeolite A have an average particle size below 2 microns. A combination of zeolite X and zeolite A can be made in the same reaction. Sand can be used as a source of silica in the production of zeolite Y by activating the sand with from 50 to 2000 ppm alumina.

Abstract: Zeolite X can be produced in a reaction mixture having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio greater than 5:1. Zeolite A can be produced in a reaction mixture having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 molar ratio greater than 3:1. The resulting zeolite X and zeolite A have an average particle size below 2 microns. A combination of zeolite X and zeolite A can be made in the same reaction. Sand can be used as a source of silica in the production of zeolite Y by activating the sand with from 50 to 2000 ppm alumina.