One of the primary concerns that many people who are considering getting artificial turf will ask about is pet odor. People understand that the installation of artificial turf is the staking down of a synthetic product to the ground. This product consists of plastic blades of grass that are adhered to a backing material, much in the same way that individual carpet fibers are affixed. The backing material holds the grass blades in place so that they do not come loose when being walked or run upon, and provides a stable surface that will not slip and slide. The stability of the product is actually created by the staking process, and if someone was to not follow the best practices when installing you may get slippage and bagging. This is one of the primary reasons to always use a licensed installer with experience in artificial turf. The main concerns that many people have is that if a material is staked to the ground that has the ability to hold the grass blades in place, that it must not be water permeable and will create pools of liquid that would fall on top of it. While this would be an issue in rain, it would be a far greater issue with regards to pet urine. Pets are going to be attracted to the softness of the grass ground covering, and as a result they are going to urinate on it often. If there is not proper drainage, this would pool on top and create an odor over time. In many situations the continual rain patterns would be enough to wash away the pet odor smell, but in areas like Las Vegas where there is little to no rain, we have issues with the fact that the pet urine simply dries on the surface when exposed to the sun. This is why we use a product called Pet Crystals from Desert Greenscapes.
Zeolite Pet Crystals are a unique product that are effective in absorbing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gasses. For this reason we prefer to use this natural product for both natural and synthetic grass, dog runs and horse corrals. The natural properties of the crystals prevents emanation of the pet waste odors and thereby controls the irritating smells that are associated. It must be noted that this product is not like others that simply mask offensive odors. Zeolite Pet Crystals actually bind to and capture many of the gasses that are found in urine, and because they are all natural they can be used in SNWA Water Smart synthetic turf installations as well as in other applications. Zeolite Pet Crystals can effectively eliminate 80% of the ammonia odors from pet waste. It is mined in the mountains above Death Valley and is safe for children, pets and the environment.
One interesting element of Zeolite Pet Crystals is that they naturally renew themselves when exposed to water, so the occasional hose-down or rainfall will bring them back to their original state. The crystals are actually used in drinking water purification systems and aquariums for filtration, and have also been used as a natural supplement for detoxifying and natural healing. The entire process for keeping them working properly is the removal of pet waste regularly and the hosing down of the area twice per month.
THE SCIENTIFIC PROPERTIES OF ZEOLITE PET CRYSTALS:
The most fundamental consideration regarding the adsorption of chemical species and odors by Zeolite is molecular sieving. Species with a kinetic diameter which makes them too large to pass through a Zeolite pore are effectively “sieved.” This “sieve” effect can be utilized to produce sharp separations of molecules by size and shape; thus providing for an excellent medium for odor absorption. The particular affinity a species has for an internal Zeolite cavity depends on electronic considerations. The strong electrostatic field within a Zeolite cavity results in very strong interaction with polar molecules such as water. Non-polar molecules are also strongly adsorbed due to the polarizing power of these electric fields. Thus, excellent separations can be achieved by Zeolite even when no steric hindrance occurs. Zeolites unique odor absorption properties can continue to function for many years.Adsorption based on molecular sieving, electrostatic fields, and polarizability are always reversible in theory and usually reversible in practice. This allows the Zeolite to be reused many times, cycling between adsorption and desorption. This accounts for the considerable economic value of Zeolite in adsorptive applications and odor control.
If you are having issues with pet waste odors in your yard or in other areas, contact Desert Greenscapes today to ask about our Zeolite Pet Crystals, and how we can help you to reduce the odors that are annoying you. We can help make your backyard a healthier and more pleasant place to be.