engleski

Scalable thermally-controlled mechanochemical synthesis of urea-gypsum agrochemical cocrystal

Urea is one of the most used nitrogen fertilizers worldwide, with high nitrogen content and bioavailability. It is not particularly stable in ambient conditions, and its decomposition can lead to a release of ammonia and associated losses in the nitrogen cycle.[1] Additionally, urea is very soluble and can be readily washed from the application area. Urea stability and retention time can be significantly increased by complexation into adducts, often enriched with additional nutrients.[2] Here, we examine the atom- and energy-efficient mechanochemical synthesis of crystalline [Ca(urea)4]SO4 cocrystal, a combined Ca, N, and S fertilizer. We monitored cocrystal formation in a mixer mill (0.5 g scale) by in situ Powder X-ray Diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. Obtained results were used to adapt scale-up procedures, using planetary milling (50 g and 100 g scale) and twin screw extrusion (300 g/h scale), which were then compared to ascertain the most efficient and sustainable scale-up procedure in means of space-time yield and energy consumption, as well as their conversion efficiency. Dissolution and stability studies of the prepared materials show significantly higher urea retention time in both laboratory and real-world conditions compared to pure urea. [1] Pan, B. ; Lam, S. K. ; Mosier, A. ; Luo, Y. ; Chen, D. Ammonia volatilization from synthetic fertilizers and its mitigation strategies: A global synthesis Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 2016, 232, 283-289. [2] Honer, K. ; Kalfaoglu, E. ; Pico, C. ; McCann, J. ; Baltrusaitis, J. Mechanosynthesis of Magnesium and Calcium Salt–Urea Ionic Cocrystal Fertilizer Materials for Improved Nitrogen Management ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2017, 5, 8546-8550.

mechanochemistry ; calcium urea sulfate ; agrochemical ; sustainability

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