NATURAL ZEOLITE ENGINEERING: INSPIRING INNOVATION SEEKING PERFECTION

• Gerardo Rodríguez Fuentes (IMRE-UH)

Room: Centro Demostrativo de Energía Renovables “Natural zeolite industry is a family business because it is lack of scientific support. Natural zeolites need more Science”, I quote Professor Frederick A. Mumpton, first President of International Committee of Natural Zeolite, later International Natural Zeolite Association (INZA). That words claimed for a change of the Natural Zeolite perspective but how to do that? Our answer was the development of the Natural Zeolite Engineering (NatZEng®) methodology, based on the deep knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of natural zeolites minerals, starting on the geological study of the deposit, following the characterization of a non-pure raw material, continuing to the design and develop of new materials modifying the zeolite raw mineral, scaling up the procedures to the industrial production, marketing and sale. We have created and provided materials and technologies to the production of food (Agriculture), human and animal health, and for environment remediation. The Intellectual Property created by our laboratory can be summarized in 143 scientific articles, 190 presentations at scientific conferences, 9 books and monographs, 4 patents (+2 applications), 8 industrial secrets, 9 trademarks (+2 applications), 1 drug registered, 1 sanitary registered, 3 fertilizer registered, 1 Cuban standard. Our innovation activities began in 1988 with the transference of technologies to enterprises of Cuba, Mexico and Canada, and the production and sales of products in Cuba, Mexico, Perú and Canada. The knowledge and experience acquired by the specialists of IMRE laboratory along 30 years, have been recognized by the natural zeolite community, allowed the creation of the international consulting firm NatZEng®.