Strategy for Boosting Rock Phosphate Efficiency and Conversion into Nano Zeolite

A laboratory study was conducted to identify the effects of milling under various conditions, including use of water and potassium as milling lubricants, on several physicochemical properties of rock phosphate fertilizer. The identified properties were the XRD patterns, particle size distribution, surface area, and NaHCO3-extractable P of the fertilizer. Milling for 2 hours significantly reduced particle size, promoted amorphization, increased surface area and amount of extractable P in 1N NaHCO3 of rock phosphate fertilizer, with those effects for dry milling were much greater than for wet milling. Wet milling and use of additives (KCl and K-feldspar) minimized the occurrence of agglomeration during milling process. Although further tests in soil-plant system are required, dry milling may be recommended as a simple method for manufacturing an agronomically effective P + K fertilizer.

The capacity of biochars to adsorb ionic contaminants is strongly influenced by biochar surface chemistry. We studied the effects of biomass feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, reaction media pH, and AlCl pre-pyrolysis feedstock treatments on biochar anion exchange capacity (AEC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), point of zero net charge (PZNC), and point of zero salt effect (PZSE). We used the relationship between PZNC and PZSE to probe biochar surfaces for the presence of unstable (hydrolyzable) surface charge functional groups. The results indicate that biochars produced at ≤500°C have high CECs and low AEC, PZSE, and PZNC values due to the dominance of negative surface charge arising from carboxylate and phenolate functional groups. Biochars produced at ≥700°C have low CEC and high AEC, PZSE, and PZNC values, consistent with a dominance of positive surface charge arising from nonhydrolyzable bridging oxonium (oxygen heterocycles) groups. However, biochars produced at moderate temperatures (500-700°C) have high PZSE and low PZNC values, indicating the presence of nonbridging oxonium groups, which are rapidly degraded under alkaline conditions by OH attack on the oxonium α-C. Biochars treated with AlCl have high AEC, PZSE, and PZNC values due to variably charged aluminol groups on biochar surfaces. The results provide support for the presence of both hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable oxonium groups on biochar surfaces. They also demonstrate that biochars produced at high pyrolysis temperatures (>700°C) or those receiving pre-pyrolysis treatments with AlCl are optimized for anionic contaminant adsorption, whereas biochars produced at low pyrolysis temperatures (400°C) are optimized for cationic contaminant adsorption.

Laminate zeolite structure prepared using papermaking techniques for carbon dioxide capture: synthesis, characterisation and performance

Synthetic nanozeolite/nanohydroxyapatite as a phosphorus fertilizer for German chamomile (Matricariachamomilla L.)

Introduction: Recently, air pollution due to the occurrence of dust storms is one of the worst environmental problems in Western and Southwestern Iran, especially the Khuzestan Province (12, 13). According to the reports of the Meteorological Organization of Iran the average number of dusty days in the cities of Ahvaz and Abadan in the Khuzestan Province reaches 68 and 76 days each year, respectively (6). Previous studies have shown that the yearly damage costs of wind erosion and occurrence of dust storms in the Khuzestan Province reach about 30 Billion Rials (5). However, very few studies have been conducted on the characterization of dust particles and also the identification of their origins in Iran, especially the Khuzestan Province. Hojati et al. (10) reported that dust deposition rate, mean particle diameter, and concentration of soluble ions in samples taken from Isfahan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province decrease with altitude, with a significantly lower gradient in periods with dust storms. They reported three factors that control the rate and characteristics of dust deposited across the study transect: 1) climatic conditions at the deposition sites, 2) distance from the dust source, and 3) differences between local and transboundary sources of dust.Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of dust storms on deposition rate, mineralogy and size distribution patterns of dust particles from twelve localities around the Houralazim lagoon. Materials and Methods: Dust samples were collected monthly during a 6 month experiment from August 2011 to February 2012. In order to differentiate between the contribution of dust production by local soils and other sources, surface soils were also sampled from the vicinity of the dust sampling sites. The collection trays were made of a glass surface (100 × 100 cm) covered with a 2 mm-sized PVC mesh on the top to form a rough area for trapping the saltating particles (Fig. 2). Dust samples were collected by scraping materials adhered to the glass trays using a spatula. All the trays were wet cleaned before the next collection. The collected dust and soil samples were examined for their grain size distribution using a Malvern Hydro 2000g laser particle size analyzer, as well as their mineral compositions by a Philips PW1840 X-ray diffractometer and a LEO 906 E transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results and Discussion: The results showed that wind speed and direction patterns during the periods with dust storms and those without dust storms were different. Accordingly, in periods with dust storms (3, 5 and 6) the contribution of winds with speeds greater than 11.1 m/sec, especially from the Northwest direction, increased when compared with those from the periods without dust storms (1, 2 and 4). Besides, the direction of prevailing winds in periods without dust storms were mainly from the West and the Northwest. However, in periods with dust storms East-directed winds were also observed (Fig. 3). These show that the source areas of dust particles in these periods are probably different. The results also illustrated that the average amount of deposited particles in the periods with dust storms (12.5 g m-2 month-1) was considerably more than that of the periods without dust storms (7.5 g m-2 month-1) (Figs. 4 and 5). The difference in dust deposition rate between periods having dust storms and those without dust storms seems to be due to dust input from a source outside the study area. Particle size distribution analysis showed that dust particles collected from the study area in both periods (with and without dust storms) are mainly silt-sized particles. This fraction contributes to 60 to 76 % of the particles collected from periods without dust storms and 66 to 82 % of particles affected by dust storms (Table 2). The results also imply that in both periods (with and without dust storms), dust particles collected from the study area had a bimodal distribution pattern which suggests mixing of settled particles from different sources and/or deposition processes (Fig. 6). Mineralogical composition of dust particles were collected from both periods (with and without dust storms) and those from the soils contained quartz, calcite, feldspar, halite, dolomite and palygorskite (Figs. 7 and 8). Moreover, the TEM images of dust particles collected in periods with dust storms showed higher amounts of palygorskite than in periods without dust storms (Fig. 9). Conclusion: The similarity in the physical properties of local soils and deposited particles of the periods with and without dust storms implies that the contribution of local soils and sediments in producing dust particles is high. However, it seems that in periods with dust storms the contribution of a transboundary origin such as Iraqi arid lands in producing dust particles increases.

A composting experiment was carried out to study changes in physical [color, odor, temperature, organic matter (OM) loss], chemical [C:N ratio, water-soluble organic carbon (Cw):organic N (Norg) ratio, NH4 +-N and NO3 −-N, humic acid (HA):fulvic acid (FA) ratio, humification index (HI) and cation-exchange capacity (CEC):total organic carbon (TOC) ratio)] and biological [seed germination index (GI)] parameters to assess compost maturity and stability over a period of 150 days. Five composts were prepared using a mixture of different farm wastes with or without enrichment of N, rock phosphate (RP) and microorganism (MO) inoculation. All the composts appeared to change to a granular and dark grey color without foul odor, and attained a constant temperature with no measurable changes (ambient level) at 120 days of composting. Correlation analysis showed that the optimal values of the selected parameters for our experimental conditions are as follows: organic matter loss > 42%, C:N ratio < 15, HA:FA ratio > 1.9, HI > 30%, CEC:TOC ratio > 1.7 and Cw:Norg ratio < 0.55. Composts enriched with N + RP or N + RP + MO matured at 150 and 120 days, respectively, whereas composts without any enrichment or enrichment with N or RP + MO did not mature even at 150 days of composting.

Bentonite, which consist essentially of clay minerals belonging to the smectite group, have a wide range of chemical and industrial uses.The structure chemical composition, exchangeable-ion type and small crystal size of smectite are responsible for several properties, including a large chemically active surface area, a high cation-exchange capacity and interlamellar surface having usual hydratation characteristics.A sample collected from Zaghouan (North East Tunisia, North Africa) is studied through some physicochemical methods.Results from X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), cation exchange capacities, specific and total surfaces, confirm the general smectite character of the sample.The adsorption capacity of this clay was tested out using three metallic ions (Pb 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ ).The results showed that, in all cases, adsorption can be illustrated by Freundlich or Langmuir isotherms.However, for 10 -3 M Pb 2+ the low value of the correlation coefficient (R 2 ) indicated that the experimental data for the adsorption didn't fit to any linear form of the Langmuir equation.Metal adsorbed onto Zaghouan clay varied in the decreasing order Pb 2+ > Zn 2+ >Ni 2+ and fitted in satisfactorily with the uptake capacity.For Pb 2+ the amount of adsorbed ions remained higher than the CEC (cation exchange capacity) of the clay fraction.This result may be due to adsorption of hydroxy lead complex in addition to sorption of bivalent lead form which explains the high amount of Pb 2+ removed from aqueous solution.

Basalts and related magmatic rocks such as diabase are frequently used as raw materials in the building and construction industry as dimension stones or as aggregates, where they may form the sub-bases of roads or railway embankments. A major characteristic controlling the quality of the raw materials is the rock strength, which can be affected by the presence of swellable clay minerals (smectites). Increasing smectite content is generally considered to increasingly affect rock integrity. Industrial practice, in which the smectite content is monitored via cation exchange capacity (CEC) methods, on the other hand, showed that both mechanically stable smectite-rich and unstable smectite-poor materials exist. We therefore studied the CEC–strength relation based on twelve samples from a German diabase quarry.As could be expected, the sample with the highest CEC was the least stable. However, the comparison of the rock strength with the CEC of the other samples was less clear. Comparing the CEC of powders and of the 1–2 mm fraction of the same sample provided additional information. In the case of samples which are relatively stable (in spite of high CEC values), the CEC values of the powders were significantly higher than those of the 1–2 mm fraction. Samples with less rock strength, on the other hand, showed equal CEC values of the powder and the 1–2 mm fraction. This difference may be explained by different accessibilities of the smectites for CEC exchange solutions during typical experiments.In conclusion, the application of the CEC method for quality control considering both powdered and 1–2 mm samples allows a more precise estimation of the rock strength to be made, particularly for the comparison of different materials. Although measurement of two CEC values (after both sieving and grinding) would complicate quality control, the present study indicates that valuable additional information, i.e. semi-quantitative information on the accessibility of smectites, is gained.

Problems encountered in the management of upland acid soils, besides soil pH, are also low in phosphorus (P) content and less available to plants. The addition of organic acids (OAs) to the direct application of phosphate rock (PR) has not been widely studied yet and is expected to improve upland acid soil properties. The research aims to determine the effect of adding OAs on the direct application of PR to improve upland acid soil and increase maize yield. It was a greenhouse experiment using a randomized complete design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments consisted of four types of OA (citric, humic, succinic, and oxalic acid) and five OA concentration levels (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm). The hybrid maize (Zea mays L) was used as the test crop. The parameters observed were soil properties (pH, exchangeable H (H+), exchangeable Al (Al3+), exchangeable Ca (Ca2+), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available P (as P-Bray1)) and maize growth (plant heights and yield). The results show that the types of OA treatments had no significant effect on soil properties and maize yield; in contrast, the concentrations of OA levels were able to improve soil properties as indicated by a significant effect on pH, H+, Al3+, Ca2+, CEC, available P, and increased maize yield. An increase in soil pH due to the addition of OAs to the direct application of PR could increase Ca2+ and CEC and decrease Al3+ and H+, while increasing available P for plants. Although not significantly different, oxalic acid was able to improve the observed soil properties and maize yield, followed by citric, humic, and succinic acids. The maximum OA concentration was 126.9 ppm. We can say that the main finding of this research is that oxalic, citric, humic, and succinic acids at a concentration of 126 ppm can be applied to phosphate rock. In Indonesia, humic acid has been widely applied by farmers because it is easy to obtain. Therefore, it can be applied to phosphate rock.

Since the last few decades Indonesia as an agricultural country many crops imported from abroad which amount to hundreds of millions of tons each year. This is due to land degradation has occurred due to the use of chemical fertilizers since the last few decades. In addition, many farms have changed its function to the settlements and industry. If the drop in agricultural production due to damage to and one of them, then the solution using natural zeolite mineral technology. If the drop in agricultural production due to changes its function to the settlements and industry, then the solution is to revise the law over the land. The results of the study has been published that proves that the natural zeolite mineral mining materials has undoubted ability to increase in agricultural, plantation, horticulture, livestock and fisheries production. In addition, zeolite minerals are also very useful in industry for water purification and prevention of environmental damage. It is unfortunate that until now there is no single policy of the Ministry of Agriculture to revitalize the role of natural zeolite in food security and sovereignty of the nation. Finally, entrepreneur are looking for alternatives to export the mineral zeolite to Malaysia. Policy of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources issued a decision which seems to mean very good and profitable future of the nation, but Instead they cause suffering to entrepreneur zeolite. The company went bankrupt because zeolite harmed and could not be exported which have a negative impact on employee termination, bank debt and loss of confidence in markets overseas. The zeolites businessman has been increased the value added to the zeolite are exported, but the government still refused to accept the sieve of a number of businessmen because of the value of zeolite cation exchange capacity (CEC) of her less then 100 me/100 g. This is due to there is no standard analytical procedures used in several laboratories designated. Therefore, the government immediately issued a policy to optimize the utilization of zeolite for the sake of the quality of national food availability for the sovereignty of the nation. Keywords: Technology; Zeolite mineral; Agriculture

The effect of phosphate (P), calcium (Ca), and pH on the dissolution of Sechura phosphate rock (SPR) in a Typic Dystrochrept was investigated in an incubation study over 90 days. Increasing the P status of the soil had little effect on either the rate or extent of dissolution of SPR, as measured by a single extraction with 0.5M NaOH, or on the amount of plant-available P in the soil as measured by the Bray procedure. This suggests that a reactive PR such as SPR could be effective as a maintenance P fertilizer on soils of medium and high P status. The dissolution of SPR at pH 6.4 was only 4% of total P added, compared to 33.6% of total P added at pH 5.2. Addition of Ca as CaCl2, at the same rate of Ca as that added in Ca(OH)2 to raise soil pH from 5.2 to 6.4, reduced the dissolution of SPR to 11% of total P added. The large effect of Ca on the dissolution of SPR contrasts with the small effect of soil P status and probably reflects the fact that the concentration of Ca in the soil solution is generally several orders of magnitude higher than that of P. The results obtained suggest that pH, per se, is of less importance in the dissolution and subsequent plant availability of P from phosphate rock in soil than previously thought.

Bacillus thuringiensis in entrapped in k-carrageenan was capable of producing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of rock phosphate ore (RPO). After five repeated batch fermentation experiments, an average of 6.9 mg/L IAA was recorded in the presence of 1.5 g/L RPO and 4.7 mg/L IAA in the RPO-free control. The bacterium simultaneously solubilized phosphates with a maximum soluble P of 115 mg/L and 150 mg/L after the fourth batch cycle in 1.5 and 3.0 g/L RPO amendment, respectively. Addition of tryptophan to the media increased IAA production to 13.9 and 20.7 mg/L per batch on RPO-free and 1.5 g/L RPO-supplemented media with poor bacterial growth and RPO solubilization.

In the Vakinankaratra region of the Malagasy Highlands, rainfed rice cultivation has developed rapidly, which has led to rapid degradation of soil fertility and reduced productivity. This study involved a comparison of rainfed rice in rotation with maize/Brachiaria (MZ-BR) or maize/soybean (MZ-SB) intercrops, managed by direct seeding (DS) or plowed with residue burial (PB) with conventional mineral fertilization (FM) or without fertilizer (F0). The umbric Acrisol (hyperdystric) presented an anion exchange capacity (AEC) and variable charge according to the pH. Mineralizable nitrogen (Nminz.) values decreased sharply from the surface to the deep horizons and became almost nil in the 90–120 cm horizon, while the Nminz. contents of the DS treatments were systematically 5–7% higher than the PB treatment values for a given depth. The AEC of the 0–10 cm horizon was practically zero but increased significantly with depth and reached 2.58 cmol(c) kg−1. AEC values were inversely correlated with the organic carbon (Corg.) content: AEC = 1.81–0.375 Corg. The nitrate adsorption isotherms were linear and the nitrate partition coefficients (coef_nit) were correlated with the AEC values: coef_nit = 0.3363 AEC+0.1855 (R2 = 0.954). The soil nitrate stock determinants were highlighted by the matrix of correlations of the principal component analysis: excheangeable acidity and aluminum, cation exchange capacity, ΔpH, Corg. and clay and total silt contents were particularly important for the AEC and coef_nit. The different cropping systems showed no significant impact after 12 years on soil characteristics that could improve nitrogen bioavailability. We thus recommend using organic fertilization to raise the soil pH, Corg. content and nitrogen bioavailability.

Preparations and modifications of Ni-Mo/natural zeolite and Mo-Ni/natural zeolite catalysts as well as their characterizations had been carried out. The preparations of catalysts were carried out by reacting a natural zeolite produced in Wonosari with the precursor of Ni(NO3)2.9H2O and Mo(NH4)7.6H2O. The modifications were performed by varying the rasio of Ni/Mo whereas the Mo was previously loaded to the zeolite or Mo/Ni ratio whereas the Ni was previously loaded and the total metal content was 1 wt.% based on the zeolite. The aim of this research for the fututure is to prepare catalysts with high acidity and crystallinity for the conversion of waste plastics fraction to gasoline fraction (C5-C12 hydrocarbons).    The characterization of catalysts included determination of metal content using Atomic Adsorption Analysis (AAS), acidity by adsorption of ammonia or pyridine vapour base method, and crystallinity by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The treatment of catalysts using Etilene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) was performed to study the metal distribution on the outer or inner surface of the zeolite.    The characterization results showed that the loading of Ni and Mo to the zeolite produced higher acidity catalysts than those of monometal loaded catalysts. The increase of Ni loaded caused the decrease of catalysts acidity, on the other hand, the increase of Mo loaded caused the increase of catalysts acidity. The metals loaded on the zeolite were distributed inside the pore and at outer surface of the zeolite. For all catalyst samples, the acidities determined using ammonia were higher than those of pyridine, and the acidities determined before the EDTA treatment was lower than those after the treatment. The metals loading on the zeolite did not defect its crystallnity. Metal contents of the zeolite before the EDTA treatment were higher than those after the treatment. The relationship between the metal ratios towards the catalyst acidity was varying. The EDTA treatment to the zeolite sample enhanced the crystallinity of the sampel. Catalyst samples produced in this research have high acidities and crystallinities, thus promisingly can be used for conversion process of waste plastics to gasoline fraction. Keywords : natural zeolite, acidity, Ni-Mo/natural zeolite, Mo-Ni/natural zeolite, crystallinity, EDTA

Preliminary laboratory production and characterization of biochars from lignocellulosic municipal waste