Results of efficiency of obtaining humic substances (HSs) from peat in traditional alkaline extraction (TAE) and ultrasound-assisted alkaline extraction (UAAE) are presented. The influence of the duration of the process and ultrasound intensity on the efficiency of extraction of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) extraction was determined. The composition of the fulvic acid fraction was examined depending on the type of eluent used. Fulvic acids were divided into fractions using columns packed with DAX-8 resin. For this process, 0.1 M NaOH and 0.5 M NH₃∙H₂O were used as eluents. For the quality assessment of specific fulvic acids fractions, spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis and FTIR) were used. Ultrasound had a positive effect on HS extraction efficiency, especially in increasing the amount of a desired hydrophobic fraction of fulvic acids (HPO). However, a negative effect of the excessive prolongation and ultrasound intensity (approximately 400 mW∙cm⁻²) on the extraction efficiency of HPO eluted with 0.1 M NaOH solution was observed. Using peat as a raw carbon material for the HS extraction process can be used as an alternative industrial application of peat. UAAE may be considered as an alternative method to TAE, which provides a higher efficiency in HS isolation from peat.

Granular fertilizers (especially those based on ammonium nitrate (AN)) tend to agglomerate during storage. The aims of this research were to develop effective anti-caking coatings for ammonium nitrate fertilizers while improving the quality of fertilizers and to optimize the composition of effective anti-caking coatings. The influence of the composition of the prepared organic coatings on the effectiveness of preventing the caking of fertilizers was studied by response surface methodology (RSM) using Box–Behnken design (BBD). Additionally, the effect of the developed anti-caking agents on the quality of fertilizers was determined by measuring the crushing strength of the granules. The prepared coatings included fatty amine, stearic acid, surfactant, and paraffin wax. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to analyze these coatings. The morphology of the fertilizers were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Composition studies, based on statistical assessment, showed the coating components had a varying influence on preventing the caking of fertilizers after granulation and after 30 days of storage. The results demonstrated that increasing the content of fatty amines and reducing surfactant in the composition of coating had positive effects on caking prevention. In this study, more effective and economically viable anti-caking coatings were developed. In addition, the present work could serve as a basis to further improve anti-caking coatings.

Ammonium nitrate fertilizers have a tendency to cake during storage. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of organic coatings for preventing the caking of ammonium nitrate fertilizers and to assess the influence of the composition and physicochemical properties of the anti-caking agents used as coatings for fertilizers on their effectiveness. CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) and AN (ammonium nitrate) fertilizers were coated with three anti-caking agents. A GC–MS technique was used for the identification and quantitative determination of the composition of the organic coatings. The influence of the following physicochemical parameters of the preparations was assessed: density, viscosity, melting point, water content, and base number. The effectiveness of anti-caking agents was determined by measuring the force needed to crush the clumped uncoated and coated fertilizers, which were previously subjected to thermal cycles under load. Composition studies showed that all the tested preparations contained hexadecylamine and octadecylamine in comparable amounts and a slack wax. The results demonstrate that the key parameters of an effective anti-caking agent are low water content, appropriate viscosity, and appropriate content of fatty amines. This study can facilitate the development of innovative coatings with similar or higher efficiency, yet with a reduced negative impact on the environment.

Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT wydaje czasopisma fachowe informuj

Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT wydaje czasopisma fachowe informuj