Q&A on silver-base inorganic antimicrobial agent "Zeomic"
- Is Zeomic silver?
- Zeomic does not equal silver. Zeomic is composed of an artificial carrier mineral, the zeolite, charged with silver ions.
Zeomic does contain silver ions. - Tell me about the safety of Zeomic.
- Safety data on Zeomic has been obtained through conducting various tests at public specialized testing institutes both in Japan and overseas.
- Does Zeomic dissolve in liquid? (water,organic solvents)
- Zeomic is a fine inorganic compound which will not dissolve in water or organic solvent however it can disperse. Zeomic can be used in the same way as inorganic pigment (zinc oxide,etc.)
- Regarding particle diameter,are there some which are bigger/smaller than the standard product?
- The general-purpose grades have an average particle diameter of around 2.5μm but we also offer grades with particle diameters as big as around 10μm and as small as around 1μm.
- Is the antimicrobial performance of Zeomic permanent?
- It is not permanent however the amount of silver consumed is extremely minimal therefore the antimicrobial performance will continue for a prolonged period of time.
- Are there ways to test antimicrobial properties?
- There is the JIS standard (ISO standard).
- What kind of antimicrobial effects are produced when Zeomic is added to products?
- Antimicrobial efficacy happens for the first time when microbes make contact with the Zeomic exposed on a product's surface. Therefore it is important to evenly disperse the Zeomic so it is exposed on a product's surface.
- Can Zeomic also be used for food contact applications?
- Yes,it can. There are Zeomic grades which have FDA approval.
- Does it comply with the Japanese Food Sanitation Act?
- Under Japan's Food Sanitation Act, polymer products that come in contact with food, whether or not they are antimicrobial processed, are required to pass the standard by conducting the Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 370 test (the standard criteria for food additives, etc. indicated in 1959). At the time of use, the Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 370 test should be conducted to confirm that the product is within the specifications.
- If Zeomic is used as an odor-eliminating agent and it continues to absorb odiferous substances,how long will its performance last?
- Zeomic's odor-eliminating mechanisms are chemisorption and physisorption therefore once saturated it will no longer be capable of eliminating odor. However,the threshold of foul odors felt by humans is extremely low concentricity and it is believed it will take time to reach saturation,therefore thought that odor-eliminating effects will last for an extended period of time.
- What kind of plastic or paint is Zeomic added to?
- Zeomic can be added in the same way as inorganic pigment (colored). In other words,Zeomic can be added using the same method to plastics or pigments to which inorganic pigment (colored) can be added.
- Does the strength of plastic decrease when Zeomic is added?
- Only around 1% of Zeomic is required to produce an antimicrobial effect,therefore it is believed there is very low probability that the strength of plastic will decrease.
- Does silver-base antimicrobial agent change color?
- There is a possibility of discoloration depending on the plastic or additives used. However,Sinanen Zeomic proposes the optimal grade from the many grades to choose from to jointly develop a product which minimal discoloration.
- Do you have a part number table?
- No,we do not have a part number table. Our sales team will introduce the right product for your application,base material and so on,out of over 100 different options. Please use the contact form for any enquiries you may have.
- Please tell me about product handling.
- Please see the "Storage Method" section.
- In what form can Zeomic be purchased?
- In order to suit a diversity of needs,we offer Zeomic,which is an inorganic powder,in a variety of forms to suit the specific application.
These include powder,plastic pellets (master batch),water slurry,ceramic pellets,crushed product (natural zeolite) and more. - What is the hardness of Zeomic?
- Equivalent to 3 - 4 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Q&A on Using Zeomic for water treatment
- What form is the Zeomic for water treatment available in?
- We offer Zeomic for water treatment in pellets (ceramic/plastic),crushed product,porous substance,and non-woven fabric. It is also possible to create moldings in line with customers' requests.
- How should I set the amount to be used,etc.?
- The amount to use differs depending on the applicable environment (frequency of water replacement,level of pollution) however in general,for circulating water systems with infrequent replacement we recommend 0.1% of the water amount. We recommend first performing a test to confirm effects in your environment of usage.
- Is it possible to remove or break down biofilm (slime)?
- Zeomic does suppress the generation of biofilm however it does not have the ability to remove or break down existing biofilm. If there is existing biofilm,please clean the system before using Zeomic.
- Is Zeomic effective on algae?
- The removal or break down of existing algae is difficult however Zeomic is able to suppress the actual generation of algae. If there is existing algae,please clean the system before using Zeomic.
- Can seawater be treated?
- Seawater has a high concentration of chloride ions. The silver ions react with these chloride ions forming silver chloride and thereby reducing antimicrobial performance. For this reason,treatment of seawater is difficult.
- How do we know when to replace the Zeomic?
- It is not possible to pass judgment through visual confirmation as the Zeomic material does not change color or reduce in size. 1 year is the general replacement interval however we will consult with customers in advance on how much Zeomic should be used for the particular application.
- Are there scale/rust prevention effects?
- No,there are no such effects.
Q&A on Deodorant adsorbent "Purgelite"
- What is Purgelite?
- It is a high-performance deodorizer that utilizes physical adsorption and chemical adsorption (and in part catalytic decomposition capability), developed using our conventional zeolite synthesis and ion exchange technologies, inorganic/organic hybrid technologies or inorganic material technologies only. It has the ability to handle not only unpleasant odors and health-hazardous substances emitted from materials, but also odors and substances that have already been released into the space (however, the effect depends on the processing method and the range of use).
- What is the difference from Zeomic?
- Some grades of Purgelite are made from the same zeolite as Zeomic and contain the same types of metal ions. However, the zeolite used in Zeomic is limited in the odor components and substances it can adsorb, whereas Purgelite's hybrid technology allows it to handle a wide range of odors and substances. On the other hand, because Purgelite is a deodorant, it does not have antimicrobial properties.
- What kinds of odors and substances can Purgelite adsorb (remove)?
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It can handle a wide range of odors, including general household odors such as acetic acid, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methylmercaptan, and trimethylamine, as well as solvent odors, depending on the grades. However, since most Purgelite is based on zeolites with pores down to about 1 nanometer in diameter, it cannot adsorb odor components or substances with larger diameters. Please refer to the Odor Compatibility Chart page for the types of odor components and substances that can be adsorbed. (We may be able to handle odor components and substances not listed in the Odor Compatibility Chart, so please contact us for details.)
- What kinds of things can Purgelite be processed into?
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The appropriate processing target and application differ depending on the grades , so please check the table below (please contact us for specific processing targets and conditions not listed in the table).
Purgelite series ZH CZU 3MH 7MH 9MH 3KZ NKS-ARP Resin kneaded
(resin odor)○ △ ○ △ ○ ○ △ Film
(environmental odor)○ △ ○ △ ○ ○ △ Nonwoven fabrics & textile
after processing
(environmental odor)2○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Paint and ink
(substrate and solvent odors)1○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Hygiene Products
Hygiene Products
Daily NecessitiesSolvent Odor
Resin Odor
Textile ProductsInterior material
Filter- In order to deal with environmental odors when processing into plastic kneading, paint, ink, etc., it is necessary to devise processing measures such as increasing the probability of Purgelite particles coming into contact with air.
- In after-processing of textiles such as apparel, there is a possibility that the effect may weaken due to washing, etc., depending on the grade. Please contact us for details.
- Can Purgelite adsorb odors and substances from the liquid phase (water)?
- Adsorption is possible while depending on the odor component and the size of the substance. However, please avoid using Purgelite in extremely strong acidic or alkaline conditions, as it will decompose.
- Does Purgelite release any odor components or substances that have been adsorbed? Can it be reused?
- ZH adsorbs organic acids, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide through chemical reactions with metal ions and does not release them unless they are allowed to reach saturation (no release was observed even after adsorption saturation was reached, unless heated). However, substances that are physically adsorbed by all Purgelites (especially hydrophobic substances) may be released upon heating.
Since it is difficult to re-release odor components and substances adsorbed by chemical reactions, it is considered difficult to regenerate by washing or rinsing, etc. However, for odor components and substances physically adsorbed, it is easy to release by heating, decompression, etc., so it is considered possible to reuse them.
Q&A on Cosmetic preservative "Ceramedic"
- Is the product approved for cosmetic use?
- It was approved as a preservative for cosmetics in 2000 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Notification No. 331 “Cosmetics Standard”). (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notification No. 331 “Standards for Cosmetics”) The ingredient name is “zinc, ammonia, and silver complex substitution type zeolite”.
- What are the features of Ceramedic?
- Safety, antimicrobial spectrum, persistence, and heat resistance are all superior to conventional cosmetic preservatives.
- Has Ceramedic been adopted?
- It has been used in many cosmetics since its launch. In particular, it is widely used in makeup and other powder products. It is also used in basic cosmetics by customers who wish to avoid the use of organic or alcohol-based preservatives.
- Has Ceramedic been adopted as a medical device?
- In Japan, the product is being considered for a wide range of products, starting with its approval for urinary catheters. We also have experience in the United States and China. Recently, the importance of preventing bacterial contamination over time has been discussed in order to reduce the rate of nosocomial infections, and antimicrobial agents are now being considered.
- Is it possible to be prescribed for quasi-drugs?
- It is possible to be formulated as an additive.
- How effective is it as an antiseptic?
- Since it depends on the formulation and amount prescribed, we encourage you to obtain a sample and perform a challenge test.
- Does Ceramedic have several grades?
- There are several types depending on the amount of silver. You can choose according to the formulation.
- Is there any possibility of discoloration or sedimentation of Ceramedic?
- Discoloration may occur due to compatibility with other raw materials used in formulations. We are currently checking the compatibility of our products with raw materials commonly used in various formulations. In addition, low viscosity formulations such as lotion may cause sedimentation. We are also examining formulations that resolve both of these issues. Please contact us for further information, subject to a nondisclosure agreement.
- What is the difference between Ceramedic and Zeomic?
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Zeomic is used in a wide range of fields, but Ceramedic is intended for products used in the pharmaceutical field, such as cosmetics and medical devices. We provide a wide range of safety data including chronic toxicity tests as well as quality control from the manufacturing stage.