THE PROPERTIES OF TWO NATURAL ZEOLITES MODIFIED WITH OREGANO ESSENTIAL OIL

The aim of this study was to prepare zeolites modified with oregano essential oil and to establish their morphological and thermal properties as well as the release ability of essential oil from zeolites. The chemical composition of oregano oil was determined by GS-MS. The crystalline structure and chemical composition of two natural zeolites were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). Both natural zeolites presented similar structure with clinoptilolite type. The thermal characteristics of oregano oil, zeolites and their combination were carried out by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The oregano oil was loaded in zeolite in order to improve its stability. It gradually evaporated so that the percentage of oil removed after 2h from zeolites was two times lower than itself evaporation. This property allows to the natural combination between zeolite and essential oil to be used as basic material in medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry.