Due to numerous and valuable properties of humic substances, preparations produced from alternative organic materials have been widely used in agriculture, bioremediations, dietary supplements and others. In addition to well-known humic acids, fulvic acids (FA) are a valuable product with a wide range of applications. The aim of performed examinations was to assess the thermal and physicochemical properties of FA obtained from lignite and peat using simplified conventional and ultrasound-assisted methods. DSC coupled with TG and MS, 13 C NMR, FTIR spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry has been used to examine extracted FA. Depending on the source of FA and the extraction method applied, their structure and properties differ. Obtained FA fractions varied for both tested raw materials in terms of analyzed carbon structures, and the highest discrepancy was observed for carbonyl groups (20.2 pp) in fractions obtained by conventional extraction. The use of the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), in comparison with the traditional method, lowered the ratio of carbon in carbonyl groups by 8.4 pp and increased the ratio of aromatic and aliphatic carbon by 3.5 and 4.9 pp, respectively, for FA obtained from lignite. As for FA obtained from peat, the UAE effect appeared to be less impactful in terms of structural changes. Thermal analysis showed that the products were thermally stable up to 100 °C, and the simplified extraction resulted in the creation of mineral-organic structures that decomposed at unusually high temperatures. Simplifying the extraction process, by excluding inorganic purification and protonation of obtained FA fractions, greatly affects product quality and limits its possible application.

The degree of complexation of microelement ions by the biodegradable chelating agent - IDHA was examined in the work. The tests were carried out in water and in a simulated fertilizer environment. In order to compare the obtained results, tests were also carried out for the commonly used EDTA. The performed analyzes allow to determine the influence of the presence of compounds containing macroelements on the degree of binding of microelement ions by the biodegradable IDHA and EDTA chelators. The obtained results make it possible to determine the optimal conditions for the chelation of cations by IDHA, which in the future may be used in the production of micronutrient fertilizers on a large scale.

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.

Samples of pure ammonium nitrate (AN) and its mixtures with calcium carbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate and potassium carbonate were investigated with the use of differential thermal analysis with mass spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The main objective of the study was to determine the influence of selected carbonate materials on phase transitions of ammonium nitrate and to consider a possibility to use such potassium salts as fillers in fertilizer production. It was proven that all carbonate salts caused the absence of a phase transition that normally would occur at around 84–86 °C. Potassium carbonates were too reactive in systems containing AN. Based on the performed study, it was concluded that even though potassium carbonates are not fit to replace mineral fillers in the production process of fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, they could be used in lesser amounts to remove the presence of low-temperature phase transitions of AN.

K2SO4 was obtained by reacting KCI with MgSO4 using stoichiometric amts. of reagents or excess of KCI. The aq. soln. of KCI and MgSO4 was slowly evaporated for 48 h at 20 degrees C. The obtained crystals and the filtrate were analyzed for the content of Cl , SO42-, K+ and Mg2+ ions. The use of KCI in excess in relation to the reaction stoichiometry allowed to obtain chloride-free K2SO4 with the yield of 45.6%.

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.

In application conditions, the influence of environmental parameters on used fertilizer chelates and their distribution over time is important. For this purpose, the changes in the content of micronutrient ions and Fe-EDDHA and Fe-EDDHSA chelates in an aqueous medium at different pH values were studied. In the assumed time, changes in the ions content were analyzed using the voltammetry method at pH 3, 5 and 7. The content of isomers and chelate forms was analyzed by ion pair chromatography at pH 3, 5 and 7. These studies allowed us to determine the effect of pH on the stability of iron chelates over time.

Corrosion protection of S235JR steel was inhibited by adds. of PhCH2N(CH2CH2P(O)(OEt)(2))](2) and PhCH(Me) N[CH2CH2P(O)(OEt)(2)](2) under model lab. conditions. The effect of the storage time of aq. solns. of the newly synthesized compds. on the steel corrosion in an aq. medium with high salinity was detd. Both compds. were efficient as corrosion inhibitors.

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is considered to be a very hazardous and difficult to handle component of mineral fertilizers. Differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry was used to determine the possible inhibiting effect of selected magnesium compounds on thermal decomposition of AN. Each additive was mixed with AN to create samples with AN:magnesium compound mass ratios of 4:1, 9:1 and 49:1. Most of analyzed compounds enhanced thermal stability of ammonium nitrate, increasing the temperature of the beginning of exothermic decomposition and decreasing the amount of generated heat. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate was determined to accelerate the decomposition of AN while magnesium sulphate, sulphate heptahydrate, nitrate hexahydrate together with magnesite and dolomite minerals were defined as inhibiting agents.

The study presents results regarding an ultrasound-assisted adsorption process of humic acids from prepared water solution on activated carbon (AC).The experimental matrix created in accordance with Box-Behnken design for three independent variables was used in the research.The impact of changes in process temperature, time, and the mass ratio of solution to AC on the purification degree of that water mixture was examined.The dependence of the purification degree on the ultrasound treatment was also determined.After conducting the experiment, defined by the generated experimental matrix, the statistical evaluation of the ultrasound-assisted adsorption process was performed.Response surface plots, as well as contour plots describing the relationship between the values of several independent variables and the purification degree of water solution of humic substances, were generated.Pareto chart of standardized effect estimates of changes in the mass ratio of the prepared solution of HAs to the AC, adsorption process temperature, and its duration was created.That effects assessment was also defined for particular process variables.The final stage of the research was the obtainment of the polynomial model specifying the response dependence on the values of independent variables.

Bitter alpha-, beta- and iso-acids were removed from hopwastes from the brewing industry by extn. with aq. Na citrate solns. (1-5% by mass). The removal degree of alpha- and beta-acids was 40-80% and that of their isomers was 70-90%. The purified waste met the requirements for animal fodder.

This work investigates the enhancing effect of nitrilotri(methylphosphonic acid) (NTMP) on the adsorption of metal ions onto unmodified, cheap, market activated carbon Norit made from coal.Different metal ion's initial concentrations and molar ratios of NTMP to metal ions were tested.In single element system adsorption of 0.07-0.1 mg Cd/g (0.6-0.9 mmol Cd/kg), 0.11 mg Cu/g (1.7 mmol Cu/kg) and 0.01-0.09mg Mn/g (0.2-1.6 mmol Mn/kg) were achieved.The addition of NTMP allowed for about a 10% increase in sorption capacity towards cadmium and about 140% towards copper.The 1:1 NTMP to metal ions molar ratio achieved about 2-times better performance than 1:2 molar ratio.Sorption capacity towards manganese was decreased by about 40% after applying NTMP to the system.The experiment with all three metal ions (cadmium, copper, and manganese) showed a correlation to the first part of the research.Adsorption of 0.004 to 0.01 mg Cd/g (0.03-0.09 mmol Cd/kg), 0.04 to 0.07 mg Cu/g (0.6-1.1 mmol Cu/kg) and 0.005 to 0.02 mg Mn/g (0.09-0.4 mmol Mn/kg) were achieved followed by 250%-300% increase towards cadmium, 150%-200% increase towards copper and 40%-70% decrease after applying NTMP.

Complexation of Zn(II) ions by ethylenediamine-N, N'-di[(2-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid] and ethylenediamine-N,N'-di[(2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl) acetic acid] in water and in simulated fertilizer environments at various pH were detd. by using differential pulse voltammetry. The degree of complexation of Zn ions by the chelators was above 80% in all the analyzed conditions, which allows their practical application.

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.

Phosphate fertilizers are most commonly obtained from wet phosphoric acid, which contains a majority of impurities that were present in raw materials used during the production process. It is essential to limit heavy metal contents, including cadmium, in manufactured phosphoric acid for environmental protection purposes. This work investigates kinetics of cadmium removal from wet phosphoric acid by precipitation method. Precipitating agents used in this study are: zinc ethylphenyldithiocarbamate (ZnEPDTC), sodium ethylphenyldithiocarbamate (NaEPDTC), sodium cellulose xanthate (SCX), sodium dibutyldithiocarbamate (NaDBDTC) and sodium sulfide (Na2S). For each agent, a proper cadmium reaction model is fitted, the simplified kinetic mechanism is proposed and pseudo-kinetic parameters are derived. Analysed precipitating agents were found to perform following three different mechanisms – ZnEPDTC and NaEPDTC did not react with cadmium ions in investigated conditions, SCX and NaDBDTC were decreasing the concentration of cadmium ions over time and Na2S initially decreased cadmium concentration to almost zero and then created Cd(HS)x2−x complexes.

Raw phosphate ore was calcinated at 850-1050 degrees C for 1-3 h and mineralized in a HNO3:H2O2:HCl mixt. (2:2:3) at 180 degrees C for 15 min to det. the P, K and Na recovery in a fertilizer. An exp. design was used in the study. The best results were achieved at 980 degrees C for 2.3 h.

A complexation of Mn ions with nitriletris(methylphosphonic acid) was carried out by polarog. (differential pulse voltammetry). Samples with molar ratios of metal to ligand 1:1 or 2:1 were analyzed in N, N-P and N-P-K fertilizing environment and at various pH range. The high degree of Mn ions complexation (98%) was achieved in the N-P-K fertilizing environment at pH 7 and for the metal:ligand molar ratio of 2:1.

Ammonium nitrate is the primary component used in the production of ammonium nitrate fertilizers. However, it has certain undesirable physicochemical properties such as hygroscopicity and phase transition at room temperature, which results in an undesirable phenomenon of caking. Caking changes the properties of the fertilizer thereby contributing to material loss. This, in turn, causes economic losses to both the manufacturer and the end-user. Anticaking agents are currently the most effective way to prevent fertilizers from caking. Finished granules of fertilizer are sprayed with anticaking agents in appropriate quantities, depending on the type of fertilizer and the anticaking agent. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial anticaking agents for use with ammonium nitrate fertilizers (Salmag (R) and ZAKsan (R)) and to evaluate the compressive strength of fertilizer granules coated with the anticaking agent. We evaluated a method to test the effectiveness of anticaking agents, which enables the effective selection of appropriate anticaking agents for various types of fertilizers.

Ammonium nitrate (AN) has proven to be an unstable and hazardous component of mineral fertilizers. In order to analyze the influence of various potassium salts on thermal properties of ammonium nitrate, differential thermal analysis coupled with thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry was used. Each potassium salt was mixed with AN to create samples with AN:salt mass ratios of 4:1, 9:1 and 49:1. It was concluded that an addition of potassium influences phase transitions of AN. Depending on the salt used, an exothermic decomposition of AN was either accelerated (potassium chloride) or inhibited to the varying degree. Carbonate salts and potassium metabisulfite were too reactive to be used in a fertilizer production, while nitrate, sulphate and both phosphates are considered to be appropriate additives and could be used in a multicomponent fertilizer production.

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of aerobic biodegradation of ethylenediamine-N,N'-di([ortho-hydroxyphenyl]acetic acid) (EDDHA) and ethylenediamine-N,N'-di([2-hydroxy-5-sulfophenyl)acetic acid) (EDDHSA) chelators under static test conditions. For comparative purposes, tests were also carried out for iminodisuccinic acid (IDHA), N,N'-di(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylene-diamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) ligands, which are also used for production of micronutrient fertilizers. The tests were carried out in accordance with PN-88-C-0561 "Study on the aerobic biodegradation of organic compounds in water under the static conditions." This method is used to predict the susceptibility to biochemical degradation of organic compounds entering surface water or into biological sewage treatment plants. For 20 d, the chelator concentration was measured daily in an organic medium inoculated with standard activated sludge under aerobic conditions without light and at room temperature. The obtained results allowed to determine the degree of distribution of ligands used in the fertilizer industry. EDDHA and EDDHSA chelators belong to the compounds difficult to biodegrade under the conditions used. Only the IDHA ligand has been completely degraded and can be classified as easily degradable. Chelates EDTA and HBED also have a slight decomposition and should be classified as difficult to decompose.