Transfer of some major and trace elements from phosphate rock to super-phosphate fertilizers

Abstract EN

This study assesses the transfer of some major and trace elements from phosphate rock (PR) to single (SSP) and triple (TSP) superphosphate fertilizers.

Samples from a fertilizer plant and local market were collected and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma spectrometer.

Cluster analysis indicated that the inner-relationship among the concentration of the elements in PR, SSP, and TSP are different.

Only one element (Mo) has concentration in SSP higher than phosphate rock.

The production process of these two types of superphosphate leads to transfer higher portion of Mn, B, Cu, Mo, Sr, and V present in the phosphate rock to SSP than TSP.

The potentially hazardous element Cd is also transmitted more to SSP than TSP, and Cr is equally transferred to both types.

The mean elemental concentrations normalized to the percentage of P2O5 demonstrate that for most elements they are the higher concentrations in SSP are linked to the phosphate contents.