A crystalline silicate-based zeolite having both cation- and anion-exchange properties in the same structure has been developed by a novel method as compared to the conventional method of hydrothermal crystallization.  During the synthesis of the zeolite, hydrated (H⁺) and (OH^-) ions are also formed according to the developed method.  According to the morphology of the zeolite, it possesses both anionic and cationic functional groups in its network wherein hydrated (H⁺) and (OH^-) ions enter as “modifiers” for the respective functional groups in which they form “ion-pairs” due to their ion-hydration and electrostatic ion-bonding energies.  These hydrated ions neutralize the negative and positive charges on the polyanionic and polycationic groups forming “cation- and anion- exchange sites” respectively.  The cation exchange capacity of 5.25 meq/g and anion exchange capacity of 7.00 meq/g indicate that the polyanionic sites are less in number than polycationic sites by 30-32 %.  The presence of both polyanionic and polycationic functional groups together in the zeolite as found experimentally indicate that there are definite negative and positive charges on the network.

The zeolite is a useful tool for the removal of whole salts from the industrial effluents, for example, in the treatment of TANNERY effluent with the zeolite, the removal of NaCl, MgSO₄ and Na₂CrO₄ occurred yielding reusable water. 

The regeneration of the spent zeolite can be done by a simple method developed.

The process for the manufacture of zeolite is more economical than the conventional process.