Role of cationic moiety in phosphate fertilizers’ molecules on their solution behavior in terms of volumetric and acoustic parameters at different temperatures and atmospheric pressure

Abstract

Ultrasonic parameters are very useful tools used to study the physic-chemical behavior and molecular interactions of various liquid mixtures. More than 50% problems of irrigated areas are associated with cultivated land and they frequently occur due to salinity. Application of fertilizers into agricultural land could be a remedy for soil salinity by providing essential nutrients to plants. In this research paper, ultrasonic and volumetric properties of phosphate based fertilizers of different molecular compositions at different temperatures have been studied. This is experimental based work; this knowledge can be employed in formulation of fertilizers according to the nature of their application which could enhance fertilizer’s activity either in terms of nutrients development or to control the salinity of soil. Results obtained from calculated ultrasonic and volumetric parameters indicated presence of strong interactions in aqueous fertilizer solutions which depends upon nature of molecules. Among presently studied phosphate fertilizers i.e. triple superphosphate, nitrophosphate and diammonium phosphate, maximum molecular interactions were observed in aqueous triple super phosphate solutions due to the presence of highly charged cationic specie i.e. calcium ions, which can also be used to control the salinity of soil using electrostatic interactions among saline salts and charged cationic species.

Keywords

• Phosphate fertilizers
• Ultrasonic parameters
• Partial molar expansibility
• Compressibility factor
• Hydration number