Collaboration with the University of Washington
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
As Governor, Bob Ferguson will support carbon reduction projects and environmental initiatives like ours. We look forward to collaborating with Bob's climate team.
Posted with Permission from Bob Ferguson
For the past two years, Zeolite Composites, LLC has been collaborating with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, along with other community scientists and partners, on a lead clean-up project in East LA where approximately 13,000 homes were built on land contaminated by the former Exide lead acid battery plant. Through this collaboration, an effective, low-cost, and scalable remediation solution for lead contamination was developed by amending the soil with natural and abundant clinoptilolite zeolite. Our zeolite quickly absorbs and permanently encapsulates lead particles that are harmful to humans, particularly young children.
On September 21, 2024, local Los Angeles artists Maru Garcia and Beatriz Jaramillo unveiled their amazing and thought-provoking artwork as part of the “Art and Science Collide” exhibit presented by the Getty. The exhibit featured the collaborations between Dr. Aaron Celestian with the Natural History Museum Los Angeles County (NHMLA), Prospering Back Yards, Zeolite Composites, and many others. The goal was to find practical solutions to the very difficult problem of lead remediation from the yards of thousands of homes in East Los Angeles. The art piece titled “Boiling Rocks 1” is a mosaic comprised of pellets made from lead contaminated soil from the yards. “Boiling Rock 2” is another mosaic showing the weblike structure of zeolite as seen under a Scanning Electron Microscope. The sculptures collectively titled “Boiling Rocks 3” are monolithic “living” zeolite sculptures designed to remediate the soil as they disintegrate on contaminated land when exposed to the natural elements. The structures are composed of compressed soil amendments (clay, mulch, soil and zeolite) and supported by a steel pole that will slowly reveal the words “Madre,” “Alive” and “Home” as the sculpture dissolves. Everyone, especially our young and growing children, deserve healthy soil. Through collaborations like this, we are working together to make that a reality. See the comments below for a link to an accompanying video from the event.
Zeolite Composites: Smarter Solutions for Sustainable Change™
Water permeable pavers are considered a green building product because they can help manage rainwater, which can reduce surface runoff and recharge groundwater levels. This can help mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce the risk of flooding in densely built-up areas. Water permeable pavers can also help prevent erosion and are a good option for regions that face water runoff and soil erosion challenges.