title: Surfactant-modified zeolite as a slow release fertilizer for phosphorus.
abstract: The feasibility of using surfactant-modified zeolite (SMZ) as a carrier for fertilizer and for slow release of phosphorus (P) was investigated. Zeolite-A was modified by using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a cationic surfactant, to modify its surface to increase its capacity to retain anion, namely, phosphate (PO4(3-)). SMZ was thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and scanning electron microscopy to study the effect of surfactant modification. Zeolite-A and SMZ were then subjected to P loading by treating them with fertilizer (KH2PO4). It was observed that the P loading on SMZ increased by a factor of 4.9 as compared to the unmodified zeolite-A. A comparative study of the release of P from fertilizer-loaded unmodified zeolite-A and SMZ and from solid KH2PO4 was performed using the constant flow percolation reactor. The results show that the P supply from fertilizer-loaded SMZ was available even after 1080 h of continuous percolation, whereas P from KH2PO4 was exhausted within 264 h. The results indicate that SMZ is a good sorbent for PO4(3-), and a slow release of P was achievable. These properties suggest that SMZ has a great potential as the fertilizer carrier for slow release of P.
authors.affiliation: National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehur Marg, Nagpur 440 020, India.
authors.forename: Amit Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bansiwal
authors.forename: Sadhana Suresh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rayalu
authors.forename: Nitin Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Labhasetwar
authors.forename: Asha Ashok
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Juwarkar
authors.forename: Sukumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devotta
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005308:Fertilizers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D017641:Zeolites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D005308:Fertilizers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D017641:Zeolites; D010758:Phosphorus; D000077286:Cetrimonium