Premium
Structural Characterization of Anion–Calcium–Humate Complexes in Phosphate‐based Fertilizers
Author(s) -
Baigorri Roberto,
Urrutia Oscar,
Erro Javier,
Mandado Marcos,
PérezJuste Ignacio,
GarciaMina José María
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201300024
Subject(s) - chemistry , phosphate , calcium , phosphorus , ultrafiltration (renal) , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , inorganic chemistry , characterization (materials science) , sulfate , metal , stereochemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography , nanotechnology , materials science
Fertilizers based on phosphate–metal–humate complexes are a new family of compounds that represents a more sustainable and bioavailable phosphorus source. The characterization of this type of complex by using solid 31 P NMR in several fertilizers, based on single superphosphate (SSP) and triple superphosphate (TSP) matrices, yielded surprising and unexpected trends in the intensity and fine structure of the 31 P NMR peaks. Computational chemistry methods allowed the characterization of phosphate–calcium–humate complexes in both SSP and TSP matrices, but also predicted the formation of a stable sulfate–calcium–humate complex in the SSP fertilizers, which has not been described previously. The stability of this complex has been confirmed by using ultrafiltration techniques. Preference towards the humic substance for the sulfate–metal phase in SSP allowed the explanation of the opposing trends that were observed in the experimental 31 P NMR spectra of SSP and TSP samples. Additionally, computational chemistry has provided an assignment of the 31 P NMR signals to different phosphate ligands as well as valuable information about the relative strength of the phosphate–calcium interactions within the crystals.